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LIFE 



OF 



WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT 



BY 



GEORGE TICKNOR 




BOSTON 

TICKNOR AND FIELDS 

I 864 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 

GEORGE TICKNOR, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 



u n i v e hs1t v p r ess! 

Welch, Bigelow, and Company 

Cambridge. 






TO 

WILLIAM HOWARD GARDINER 

AND 

WILLIAM AMORY. 



We are more than once mentioned together in the laft teftamentary 
difpofitions of our friend, as perfons for whom he felt a true regard, and 
to whofe affection and fidelity he, in fome refpects, intrufted the welfare 
of thofe who were deareft to him in life. Permit me, then, to affociatt 
your names with mine in this tribute to his memory. 

GEORGE TICKXOR. 



Ill 





Prefatory Notice 



HE following Memoir has been written in 
part payment of a debt which has been 



accumulating for above half a century. But 
I think it right to add, that my friend count- 
ed upon me, in cafe I mould furvive him, 
to prepare fuch a flight fketch of his literary life as he 
fuppofed might be expected, — that, fince his death, his fam- 
ily, and I believe the public, have defired a biographical 
account of him ampler than his own modefty had deemed 
appropriate, — and that the Maflachufetts Hiftorical Society, 
who early did me the honor of directing me to prepare a 
notice of their lamented affociate fuch as it is cuftomary to 
infert in their official proceedings, have been content to ac- 
cept the prefent Memoir as a fubftitute. It is, therefore, 
on all accounts, offered to the public as a tribute to his 
memory, the preparation of which I mould not have felt 
myfelf at liberty to refufe even if I had been lefs willing 
to undertake it. 

But if, after all, this Memoir mould fail to fet the author 



IV 



Prefatory Notice. 



of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " before thofe who had not 
the happinefs to know him perfonally, as a man whofe life 
for more than forty years was one of almoft conftant ftrug- 
gle, — of an almoft conftant facrifice of impulfe to duty, of 
the prefent to the future, — it will have failed to teach its 
true leffon, or to prefent my friend to others as he flood 
before the very few who knew him as he was. 



Park Street, Boston, November, 1863. 




— f — ^-Ciifr 




Contents 



Page 



CHAPTER I. — Birth and Parentage. — Early Training. — Removal to Bofton. 

— Dr. Gardiner's School. — Life at Home. — Love of Books. — Difficulty 
of obtaining them. — Bofton Athenaeum. — William S. Shaw. — Favorite 
Books. — Studies. — Early Friendfhip. — Amufements. — Enters College . i 

CHAPTER II. — College Life. — Good Refolutions. — Injury to Sight. — Im- 
mediate Effects. — State of the Eye. — Relations with the Perfon who 
inflifted the Injury. — Studies fubfequent to the Injury. — Mathematics. — 
Latin and Greek. — Phi Beta Kappa Society. — Graduated. — Studies. — 
Severe Inflammation of the Eye. — Character under Trial. — Anxiety about 
his Health. — Is to vifit Europe ........ 16 

CHAPTER III. — Vifit to St. Michael's. — His Life there. — Suffering in his 
Eye. — His Letters to his Father and Mother; to his Sifter; and to W. 
H. Gardiner . . . . . . . . . . . -33 

CHAPTER IV. — Leaves St. Michael's. — Arrives in London. — Privations there. 

— Pleafures. — Goes to Paris. — Goes to Italy. — Returns to Paris. — 111— 
nefs there. — Goes again to London. — Travels little in England. — Deter- 
mines to return Home. — Letter to W. H. Gardiner . . . .42 

CHAPTER V. — Return from England. — Rheumatifm. — Firft Literary Adven- 
ture. — Decides not to be a Lawyer. — Falls in Love. — Marries. — Con- 
tinues to live with his Father. — Swords of his Grandfather and of the 
Grandfather of his Wife. — His Perfonal Appearance. — Club of Friends. 

— The " Club-Room." — Determines to become a Man of Letters. — 
Obftacles in his Way. — Efforts to overcome them. — Englifh Studies. — 
French. — Italian. — Opinions of Petrarch and of Dante. — Further Studies 
propofed. — Defpairs of learning German 49 

CHAPTER VI. — He ftudies Spanifh inftead of German. — Firft Attempts not 
earneft. — Mably's " Etude de l'Hiftoire." — Thinks of writing Hiftory. 

— Different Subjects fuggefted. — Ferdinand and Ifabella. — Doubts long. 

— Writes to Mr. A. H. Everett. — Delay from Suffering in the Eye. — 
Orders Books from Spain. — Plan of Study. — Hefitares from the Condi- 
tion of his Sight. — Determines to go on. — His Reader, Mr. Englifh. — 
Procefs of W T ork. — Eftimates and Plans 7° 



VI 



Contents. 



CHAPTER VII. — Death of his Daughter. — Inquiries into the Truth of the 
Chriftian Religion. — Refults. — Examines the Hiftory of the Spanifh 
Arabs.— I Reviews Irving's Granada. — Studies for his Work on Ferdinand 
and Ifabella. — Begins to write it. — Regard for Mably and Clemencin. 

— Progrefs of his Work. — At Pepperell. — At Nahant. — Finifhes the 
Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella ........ 

CHAPTER VIII. — Doubts about publifhing the Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella. — Four Copies printed as it was written. — - Opinions of Friends. 

— The Author's own Opinion of his Work. — Publifhes it. — His Let- 
ters about it. — Its Succefs. — Its Publication in London. — Reviews of 
it in the United States and in Europe ....... 



ioi 



CHAPTER IX. — The Author's Feelings on the Succefs of Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella. — Illnefs of his Mother, and her Recovery. — Opinions in Europe 
concerning his Hiftory . . . . . . . . . .114 

CHAPTER X. — Mr. Prefcott's Character at this Period. — Effeft of his In- 
firmity of Sight in forming it. — Noftograph. — Diftribution of his Day. 
— Contrivances for regulating the Light in his Room. — Premature De- 
cay of Sight. — Exacl: Syftem of Exercife and Life generally. — Firm Will 
in carrying it out . . . . . . . . . .121 

CHAPTER XI. — Mr. Prefcott's Social Character. — Remarks on it by Mr. 

Gardiner and Mr. Parfons . . . . . . . . .136 

CHAPTER XII. — Mr. Prefcott's Induftry and General Character bafed on 
Principle and on Self-Sacrifice. — Temptations. — Expedients to overcome 
them. — Experiments. — Notes of what is read to him. — Compofes 
without writing. — Severe Difcipline of his Moral and Religious Charac- 
ter. — Diflikes to have his Habits interfered with. — Never mows Con- 
ftraint. — Freedom of Manner in his Family and in Society. — His Influ- 
ence on others. — His Charity to the Poor. — Inftance of it . 



140 



CHAPTER XIII. — Period immediately after the Publication of " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella." — Thinks of writing a Life of Moliere ; but prefers Span- 
ifh Subjects. — Reviews. — Inquires again into the Truth of Chriftianity. 
— Conqueft of Mexico. — Books and Manufcripts obtained for it. — 
Humboldt. — Indolence. — Correfpondence with Wafhington Irving 

CHAPTER XIV. — His Correfpondence becomes Important. — Letter to Ir- 
ving. — Letters from Sifmondi, Thierry, Tytler, and Rogers. — Letter to 
Gayangos. — Memoranda. — Letters to Gayangos, and others. — Letters 
from Ford and Tytler .......... 

CHAPTER XV. — Materials for the " Conqueft of Mexico." — Imperfect In- 
duftry. — Improved State of the Eye. — Begins to write. — Difficulties. 

Thoroughnefs. — Interruptions. — Lord Morpeth. — Vifits to New York 



160 



74 



Contents, 



vn 



and Lebanon Springs. — " Conqueft of Mexico " finifhed. — Sale of Right 
to publifh. — Illnefs of his Father. — Partial Recovery. — " Conqueft of 
Mexico" publifhed. — Its Succefs. — Reviews of it. — Letters to Mr. 
Lyell and Don Pafcual de Gayangos. — From Mr. Gallatin. — To Lord 
Morpeth and Gayangos. — From Mr. Hallam and Mr. Everett. — Mem- 
oranda. — Letter from Lord Morpeth. — Letters to Dean Milman and 
Mr. J. C. Hamilton. — Letters from Mr. Tytler and Dean Milman . 193 

CHAPTER XVI. — Mr. Prefcott's Style. — Determines to have one of his own 
How he obtained it. — Difcuffions of Reviews about it. — Mr. Ford. — 
Writes more and more freely. — Naturalnefs. — His Style made attractive 
by Caufes connected with his Infirmity of Sight. — Its final Character . 217 

CHAPTER XVII. — Sits for' his Portrait and Bull. — Vifit to New York. — 
Mifcellaneous Reading. — Materials for the " Conqueft of Peru." — Begins 
to write. — Death of his Father. — Its Effect on him. — Refumes Work. 
Letter from Humboldt. — Election into the French Inftitute, and into the 
Royal Society of Berlin . . . . . . . . . 231 

CHAPTER XVIII. — Publication of a Volume of Mifcellanies. — Italian Lit- 
erature. — Controverfy with Daponte. — Charles Brockden Brown. — 
Blind Afylum. — Moliere. — Cervantes. — Scott. — Irving. — Bancroft. 
— Madame Calderon. — Hiftory of Spanifh Literature. — Opinions of 
Review-writing ........... 246 

CHAPTER XIX. — His Domeftic Relations. — " Conqueft of Peru." — Pep- 
perell. — Letters. — Removal in Bofton. — Difficulties. — Fiftieth Birth- 
day. — Publifhes the " Conqueft of Peru." — Doubts. — Succefs. — Mem- 
oranda. — " Edinburgh Review." — Life at Pepperell. — Letter from Mifs 
Edgeworth ............ 257 



CHAPTER XX. — Mr. Motley. — Hefitation about beginning the Hiftory of 
Philip II. — State of his Sight bad. — Preparations. — Doubts about tak- 
ing the whole Subject. — Memoir of Pickering. — Early Intimations of a 
Life of Philip II. — Collection of Materials for it. — Difficulty of getting 
them. — Greatly affifted by Don Pafcual de Gayangos. — Materials at laft 
ample. — Prints for his own Ufe a Portion of Ranke's Spanifh Empire . 



27; 



CHAPTER XXI. — General Scott's Conqueft of Mexico. — Summer at Pep- 
perell. — Difficulties and Doubts about " Philip the Second." — Memoirs 
or regular Hiftory. — Anxiety about his Hearing. — Journey for Health. 
— Not fufficient. — Project for vifiting England. — Refolves to go. — 
Voyage and Arrival. — London ........ 



291 



CHAPTER XXII. — Leaves London. — Hafty Vifit to Paris, BrufTels, and Ant- 
werp. — Letters. — Return to London. — Vifits in the Country. — Let- 
ters. — End of his Vifit to England. — Englifh Character and Society . 320 



Vlll 



Contents. 



CHAPTER XXIII. — Voyage Home. — Letters to Friends in England. — Be- 
gins to work again. — Pepperell. — " Philip the Second." — Corre- 
fpondence ............ 342 

CHAPTER XXIV. — Political Opinions. — Correfpondence with Mr. Bancroft, 

Mr. Everett, and Mr. Sumner. — Converfation on Political Subjetts . 358 

CHAPTER XXV. — Death of Mr. Prefcott's Mother. — Progrefs with "Philip 

the Second." — Correfpondence ........ 383 

CHAPTER XXVI. — Rheumatifm at Nahant. — Bofton Homes fuccefhvely oc- 
cupied by Mr. Prefcott, in Tremont Street, Summer Street, Bedford Street, 
and Beacon Street. — Patriarchal Mode of Life at Pepperell. — Life at 
Nahant and at Lynn .......... 390 

CHAPTER XXVII. — Firfl: Summer at Lynn. — Work on "Philip the Second." 

— Memoranda about it. — Prints the Firfl two Volumes. — Their Suc- 
cefs. — Addition to Robertfon's " Charles the Fifth." — Memoir of Mr. 
Abbott Lawrence. — Goes on with " Philip the Second." — Illnefs. — 
Dinner at Mr. Gardiner's. — Correfpondence ..... 402 

CHAPTER XXVIII. — Firfl Attack of Apoplexy. — Yields readily. — Clear- 
nefs of Mind. — Compofure. — Infirmities. — Gradual Improvement. — 
Occupations. — Prints the third Volume of "Philip the Second." — Sum- 
mer at Lynn and Pepperell. — Notes to the " Conqueft of Mexico." — 
Return to Bofton. — Defire for active literary Labor. — Ague. — Cor- 
refpondence ............ 424 

CHAPTER XXIX. — Anxiety to return to ferious Work. — Pleafant Forenoon. 

— Sudden Attack of Apoplexy. — Death. — His Wifhes refpecling his 
Remains. — Funeral. — Exprefiions of Sorrow on both Sides of the At-' 
lantic 442 



APPENDIX. 

A. — The Prefcott Family aaq 

B. — The CrofTed Swords .......... 461 

C. — Extracts from a Letter addrefled by Mr. Edmund B. Otis, formerly Mr. 

Prefcott's Secretary, to Mr. Ticknor 464 

D. — Literary Honors ........... a^j 

E. — Tranflations of Mr. Prefcott's Hillories 469 

F- — Converfation of Mr. Prefcott fhortly before his Death .... 472 

G. — On his Death . . . . . . . . . _ ( . 47C 

INDEX +79 



-afrOtTOt. 




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Page 

Portrait of Mr. Prescott. Engraved by Holl, from a Photograph by 

WHIPPLE, 1856 Facing the Title 

Arms of Mr. Prescott. Engraved by Kilburn Title 

House in Salem where Mr. Prescott was born. Drawn by Warren and 

Engraved by Marsh 1 

House in Bedford Street, Boston. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by 

Marsh, from a Water- Color by Vautin 49 

Noctograph. Engraved by Kilburn 121 

Fac-simile of Mr. Prescott's Noctograph Manuscript. Engraved by 

Boynton 124 

Walk behind the House in Pepperell. Drawn by Warren and Engraved 

by Marsh, from a Photograph by Black 217 

Cottage at Nahant. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh . . 231 

Bust of Mr. Prescott by Greenough. Engraved by Smith, from a Photo- 
graph by SOUTHWORTH 232 

House at Pepperell. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh, from a 

Photograph by BLACK 257 

Study in Beacon Street. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh . 277 

Part of Fairy Grove, Pepperell. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by 
. Marsh, from a Photograph by Black 291 

Library in Beacon Street, Boston. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by 

Marsh 320 



IX 



List of Illustrations. 



House in Pepperell. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh 



342 



Part of Fairv Grove. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh, from a 

Photograph by Black 358 

House in Pepperell, from the Southwest. Drawn by Warren and En- 
graved by Marsh, from a Photograph by BLACK . . . . . . 383 



Villa at Lynn. Drawn by Warren and Engraved by Marsh . 



39o 



View from the Piazza, Pepperell, looking South. Drawn by Warren and 

Engraved by Marsh, from a Photograph by Black 424 

House in Pepperell, Southeasterly View. Drawn by Warren and En- 
graved by Marsh, from a Photograph by Black 449 

Head-Pieces and Initial-Letters, from original Designs. 



^3**—' 





CHAPTER I 



i 79 6 



ibi 1 



Birth and Parentage. — Early Training. — Removal to Bofton. — Dr. 
Gardiner's School. — Life at Home. — Love of Books. — Difficulty of 
obtaining them. — Bofton Athenaeum. — William S. Shaw. — Favorite 
Books. — Studies. — Early Friendfhip. — Amujements. — Enters College. 

WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT was 

born in Salem, New England, on the fourth 
day of May, feventeen hundred and ninety- 
fix. 1 

His father, then thirty-four years old, — a 
perfon of remarkable manly beauty, and great 
dignity and gentlenefs of character, — was already in the rlufh 
of his early fuccefs at the bar, where he fubfequently rofe to 
much eminence and honor. His mother, five years younger, 

1 For an account of the Prefcott Family, fee Appendix (A). 




Chap. I. 



1796. 



Birth. 



Father and 
mother. 



Chap. I. 

1796 - 1800. 
JEt. 1 - 4. 



William Hickling Prescott 



House where 
born. 



Home training. 



was a woman of great energy, who feemed to have been born 
to do good, and who had from her youth thofe unfailing 
fpirits which belong to the original temperament of the very 
few who have the happinefs to poflefs them, and which, in 
her cafe, were controlled by a good fenfe and by religious 
convictions, that made her prefence like a benediction in the 
fcenes of forrow and fuffering, which, during her long life, 
it was her chofen vocation to frequent. They had been mar- 
ried between two and three years when William was born to 
them, inheriting not a few of the prominent characteriftics 
of each. He was their fecond child; the firft, alfo a fon, 
having died in very early infancy. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Prefcott was always a happy 
one, — refpected and loved by thofe who came within the 
reach of its influence. Their pleafant, hofpitable houfe in 
Salem is no longer ftanding ; but the fpot it occupied is well 
remembered, and is pointed out to ftrangers with pride, as the 
one where the future hiftorian was born. Its lite is now that of 
" Plummer Hall " ; — a building erected for literary and fcien- 
tific purpofes, from funds bequeathed by the lady whofe name 
it bears, and who was long a friend of the Prefcott family. 2 

William's earlier! education was naturally in the hands of 
his affectionate and active mother, his great obligations to 
whom he always loved to acknowledge, and from whom, 
with flight exceptions, it was his happinefs never to be fep- 
arated fo long as they both lived. He felt, to the laft, that 
her influence upon him had been one of the chief bleflings 
of his life. On the afternoon of her death he fpoke of it 
to me, as a guiding impulfe for which he could not be too 
grateful. 



2 Only a year before his death, the hif- 
torian was invited to be prefent at the 
dedication of " Plummer Hall." He was 
not able to attend ; but, in reply to the in- 
vitation, he faid : " I need not affure you 
that I take a fincere intereft in the cere- 
monies of the day, and I have a particular 



intereft in the fpot which is to be covered 
by the new edifice, from its having been 
that on which I firft faw the light. It is 
a pleafant thought to me, that, through 
the enlightened liberality of my deceafed 
friend, Mifs Plummer, it is now to be 
confecrated to fo noble a purpofe." 



School Days. 



But, like the children of raoft of the perfons who confti- 
tuted the fociety in Salem to which his family belonged, he 
was lent to a fchool for the very young, kept by Mifs Me- 
hitable Higginfon, a true gentlewoman, defcended from the 
venerable Francis Higginfon, who emigrated to Salem in 1629, 
when there were only feven houfes on the fpot now covered 
by the whole city, and who, from his fcholarfhip, eloquence, 
and piety, has fometimes been called the founder of the 
churches of New England. Mifs Higginfon underftood, with 
an inftincT: for which experience affords no fufficient fubftitute, 
what belongs to childhood, and how beft to direct and mould 
its opening faculties. It was her wont to call herfelf, not the 
fchool miftrefs, but the fchool mother, of her little flock ; and 
a fyftem of difcipline which might be fummed up in fuch a 
phrafe could hardly fail of being effectual for good. Certain- 
ly it fucceeded to a remarkable degree with her many pupils, 
during the half-century in which fhe devoted herfelf with 
truth and love to her calling. Of her more favored chil- 
dren, William was one. 

From the tender and faithful hands of Mifs Higginfon, 
he paffed to the fchool of Mr. Jacob Newman Knapp, long 
known in Salem as " Mafter Knapp," — a perfon who, as the 
beft teacher to be obtained, had been procured by Mr. Pref- 
cott and a few of his more intimate friends, all of whom 
were anxious, as he was, to fpare neither pains nor expenfe in 
the education of their children. Under Mr. Knapp's care 
William was placed at New-Year, 1803, when he was lefs 
than feven years old ; and he continued there until the mid- 
fummer of 1808, when his father removed to Bofton. 

The recollections of him during thefe four or five years 
are diftincl: in the minds of his teacher, who ftill furvives 
(1862) at a venerable old age, and of a few fchoolmates, now 
no longer young. He was a bright, merry boy, with an inquiii- 
tive mind, quick perceptions, and a ready, retentive memory. 
His leffons were generally well learned ; but he loved play 
better than books, and was too bufy with other thoughts than 



Chap. I. 

J1800 - 1803. 
JEt. 4-7. 



Mifs Higginfon's 
fchool. 



Mafter Knapp's 
fchool. 



Chap. I. 

1803 - 1808. 
JEt. 7-12. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Early love of 
reading. 



Schoolfellows. 



Senfitive a 
fcience. 



thofe that belonged to the fchool-room to become one of 
Mafter Knapp's beft pupils. He was, though large for his 
years, not very vigorous in his perfon. He never fancied rude or 
athletic fports, but amufed himfelf with fuch boys of his own 
age as preferred games requiring no great phyfical ftrength ; 
or elfe he made himfelf happy at home with fuch light read- 
ing as is moft attractive to all children, and efpecially to thofe 
whofe opening taftes and tendencies are quiet, if not intellectual. 
In the latter part of his life he ufed to fay, that he recollected 
no period of his childhood when he did not love books ; add- 
ing, that often, when he was a very little boy, he was fo excited 
by ftories appealing ftrongly to his imagination, that, when his 
mother left the room, he ufed to take hold of her gown, and 
follow her as fhe moved about the houfe, rather than be left 
alone. But in fchool he did not love work, and made no 
remarkable progrefs in his ftudies. 

Neither was he fo univerfally liked by the boys with whom 
he was arTociated in Salem, as he was afterwards by the boys 
in other fchools. He had indeed his favorites, to whom he 
was much attached and who were much attached to him, and 
he never faltered in his kindnefs to them fubfequently, how- 
ever humble or unfortunate their condition became ; but at 
home he had been encouraged to fpeak his mind with a bold- 
nefs that was fometimes rude ; partly from parental indul- 
gence, and partly as a means of detecting eafily any tendencies 
in his character that his confcientious father might think it 
needful to reftrain. The confequence was, that a fimilar habit 
of very free fpeaking at fchool, joined to his great natural .viva- 
city and exceffive animal fpirits, made him more confident 
in the expreffion of his opinions and feelings than was agree- 
able, and prevented him from becoming a favorite with a 
portion of his fchoolmates. It laid, however, I doubt not, 
the foundation for that attractive fimplicity and opennefs 
which conftituted prominent traits in his character through 

His confcience was fenfitive and tender from the firft, and 



Hi 



ome 



Infi 



uences. 



never ceafed to be fo. A fermon to children produced a ftrik- 
ing effect upon him when he was ftill a child. It was a very 
firnple, direct one, by Dr. Channing, and William's mother 
told him to read it to her one evening when his conduct had 
required fome flight cenfure, and fhe thought this the beft way 
to adminifter it. He obeyed her reluctantly. But foon his 
lips began to quiver, and his voice to choke. He flopped, and 
with tears faid, " Mother, if I am ever a bad boy again, won't 
you fet me to reading that fermon ? " 

His temperament was very gay, like his mother's, and his 
eager and fometimes turbulent fpirits led him into faults of 
conduct oftener, perhaps, than anything elfe. Like mod 
fchool-boys, he was fond of practical jokes, and ventured 
them, not only in a fpirit of idle mifchief, but even rudely. 
Once he badly frightened a fervant-girl in the family, by 
fpringing unexpectedly upon her from behind a door. But 
his father, bufy and anxious as he was with the interefts of 
others, and occupying himfelf lefs with the material concerns 
and affairs of his houfehold than almoft any perfon I ever 
knew, had yet an eye of unceafing vigilance for whatever re- 
lated to the training of his children, and did not suffer even 
a fault fo flight to pafs without rebuke. After this, although 
William was always a boy full of life and mifchief, he gave no 
more trouble by fuch rudenefs at home. 

No doubt, therefore, his early education, and the circum- 
ftances moft nearly connected with it, were, on the whole, 
favorable to the formation of a character fuited to the pofition 
in the world that he was likely to occupy ; — a character, I 
mean, that would not eafily yield to the temptations of prof- 
perity, nor be eafily broken down by adverfe fortune, if adverfe 
fortune mould come upon it. It was, in fact, a condition of 
things that directly tended to develop thofe manly qualities 
which in our New-England fociety have always moft furely 
contributed to progrefs and fuccefs. 

Nor was there anything in the circle with which his family 
was moft connected to counteract thefe influences. Life in 



Chap. I. 

1803 - 1808. 
JEt. 7-12. 



Gay fpirits. 



Home influ- 
ences. 



Chap. I. 

1803 - 1808 
JEt. 7-12. 

Salem at that 
period. 



Society in Salem 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Removal to Bof- 
ton. 



thofe days was a very fimple thing in Salem, compared with 
what it is now. It was the period when Mr. Gray and Mr. 
Peabody, the Pickmans and the Derbys, were too busy with 
their widely extended commerce to think often of anything 
elfe ; when Mr. Juftice Putnam was a young lawyer ftruggling 
up to eminence ; when Mr. Story, afterwards the diftinguifhed 
jurift and judge, was only beginning to be heard of; and when 
the mathematical genius of Dr. Bowditch, and the claffical 
ftudies of Mr. Pickering, which were deftined later to have fo 
wide an effect on our community, were hardly known beyond 
the limits of their perfonal acquaintance. 

In thofe active, earneft days, the modeft luxury of hackney- 
coaches and hired waiters had not come to be deemed needful 
in Salem, even among thofe who were already profperous and 
rich. When, therefore, Mrs. Prefcott had invited friends to 
dine, — a form of focial intercourfe which fhe and her hufband 
always liked, and which they practifed more freely than moft 
perfons then did, — if the weather proved unfavorable, fhe 
lent her own chaife to bring her lady guefts .to her houfe, and 
carried them fafely home in the fame way when the hofpitable 
evening was ended. Or, if the company were larger than her 
ufual arrangements would permit to be well ferved, fhe bor- 
rowed the fervants of her friends, and lent her own in return. 
But the days of fuch unpretending fimplicity are gone by, and 
a tafteful luxury has naturally and gracefully taken its place. 
They were days, however, on which my friend always looked 
back with fatisfaction, and I doubt not, nor did he doubt, that 
it was well for him that his character received fomething of its 
early direction under their influence. He was always grateful 
that his firft years were paffed neither in a luxurious home nor 
in a luxurious ftate of fociety. 3 

Mr. Prefcott the elder removed with his family to Bofton 



* For this fketch of fociety as it exifted 
in Salem at the end of the lafl century I 
am indebted to the venerable Mrs. Putnam, 
widow of Mr. Juftice Putnam, whofe fam- 
ily, early connected with that of the elder 



Mr. Prefcott by bonds of friendfhip and 
affeftion, has, in the third generation, been 
yet more intimately and happily united to 
it by the marriage of the eldeft fon of the 
hiftorian with a granddaughter of the jurift. 



Dr. Gardiner s School. 



in the fummer of 1808, and eftablifhed himfelf in a houfe on 
Tremont Street. But although he had come to a larger town, 
and one where thofe of his own condition indulged in fome- 
what more free habits of expenfe, the manner of life that he 
preferred and followed in his new home was not different from 
the one to which he had been accuftomed in Salem. It was 
a life of cordial, open hofpitality, but without fhow or preten- 
tion of any fort. And fo it continued to the laft. 

The promifing fon was fent in the early autumn to the beft 
claffical fchool then known in New England ; for his father, 
bred at Dummer Academy by " Mafter Moody," who in his 
time was without an equal among us as a teacher of Latin 
and Greek, always valued fuch training more than any other. 
And it was fortunate for William that he did fo ; for his early 
claffical difcipline was undoubtedly a chief element in his fub- 
fequent fuccefs. 

The fchool to which he was fent — if fchool it could prop- 
erly be called — was one kept with few of the attributes of 
fuch an inftitution, but in its true fpirit, by the Rev. Dr. Gar- 
diner, 4 Rector of Trinity Church, Bofton. Dr. Gardiner was 
a good fcholar, bred in England under Dr. Parr, who, some 



7 



Chap. I. 

1808. 
Mr. 12. 



Dr. Gardiner' 
fchool. 



4 Dr. Gardiner had earlier kept a regu- 
lar fchool in Bofton, with no fmall fuccefs ; 
but, at the time referred to, he received in 
his own library, with little form, about 
a dozen youths, — fome who were to 
be prepared for college, and fome who, 
having been already graduated, fought, by 
his affiftance, to increafe their knowledge 
of the Greek and Latin claffics. It was 
excellent, direct, perfonal teaching ; — the 
more effective becaufe the number of pu- 
pils was fo fmall. It was, too, of a fort 
peculiarly adapted to make an impreffion 
on a mind and temperament like young 
Prefcott's. Indeed, it became the founda- 
tion of an attachment between him and 
his inftru&or, which was fevered only by 
death, and of which a touching proof was 
afforded during the laft, long-protracted 
illnefs of Dr. Gardiner, who, as his in- 



firmities increafed, directed his fervant to 
admit nobody, beyond the limits of his 
family connections, except Mr. Prefcott. 
It is needlefs to add, that, after this, his 
old pupil was almoft daily at his door. 
Nor did he ever afterwards forget his ear- 
ly, kind teacher. Dr. Gardiner died in 
1830, in England, where he had gone 
with the hope of recovery, and, on re- 
ceiving the intelligence of his death, Mr. 
Prefcott publifhed, in one of our newf- 
papers, an interefting obituary of him. 
Subfequently, too, in 1848, he wrote to 
Dr. Sprague, in Albany, an affectionate 
letter (to be found in that gentleman's 
"Annals of the American Pulpit," Vol. V. 
p. 365, 1859) on Dr. Gardiner's char- 
acter, and in the very laft year of his 
life he was occupied with freih intereft 
about its publication. 



8 



Chap. 


I. 


1808 


- ] 


811 


JEt. 


1 2 


- 15 



My firft ac- 
quaintance 
with him. 



His family in 
Bofton. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



years afterwards, at Hatton, fpoke of him to me with much 
regard and refpect. But, befides his fcholarfhip, Dr. Gardiner 
was a generous, warm-hearted man, who took a fincere intereft 
in his pupils, and fympathized with them in their purfuits to a 
degree which, however defirable, is very rare. A great deal of 
his teaching was oral ; fome of it, no doubt, traditional, and 
brought from his Englifh fchool ; all of it was excellent. For, 
although recitations of careful exactnefs were required, and 
puniuhments not flight inflicted for negligence and breaches of 
difcipline, ftill much knowledge was communicated by an eafy, 
converfational commentary, the beft part of which could not 
readily have been found in books, while the whole of it gave 
a life and intereft to the leffons that could have been given by 
nothing elfe. 

It was in this fchool, as foon as he became a member of it, 
that I firft knew William, as a bright boy a little more than 
twelve years old. I had then been under Dr. Gardiner's in- 
ftruclion fome months, not as a regular member of any clafs, 
but at private hours, with one or two others, to obtain a 
knowledge of the higher Greek and Latin claflics, not elfe- 
where to be had among us. Very foon the young ftranger 
was brought by his rapid advancement to recite with us, and 
before long we two were left to purfue a part of our ftudies 
quite by ourfelves. From this time, of courfe, I knew him 
well, and, becoming acquainted in his father's family, faw him 
not only daily at fchool, but often at home. It was a moft 
agreeable, cheerful houfe, where the manners were fo frank 
and fincere, that the fon's pofition in it was eafily underftood. 
He was evidently loved — much loved — of all ; his mother 
mowing her fondnefs without an attempt at difguife, — his 
father not without anxiety concerning his fon's fpirits and the 
peculiar temptations of his age and pofition. Probably he was 
too much indulged. Certainly, in his fine, open nature there 
were great inducements to this parental infirmity ; and a fpirit 
of boyifh mifchief in his relations with thofe of his own age, 
certain degree of prefumption in his manners 



and 



L g e > 
toward 



The Boston Athenceum. 



thofe who were older, were not wanting to juftify the fufpicion. 
That he was much trufted to himfelf there was no doubt. 

But he loved books of the lighter fort, and was kept by his 
tafte for them from many irregular indulgences. Books, how- 
ever, were by no means fo acceffible in thofe days as they are 
now. Few, comparatively, were published in the United States, 
and, as it was the dreary period of the commercial reftrictions 
that preceded the war of 1 8 1 2 with England, ftill fewer were 
imported. Even good fchool-books were not eafily obtained. 
A copy of Euripides in the original could not be bought at 
any bookfeller's fhop in New England, and was with difficulty 
borrowed. A German inftruclior, or means for learning the 
German language, were not to be had either in Bofton or 
Cambridge. The beft publications that appeared in Great 
Britain came to us flowly, and were feldom reprinted. New 
books from the Continent hardly reached us at all. Men felt 
poor and anxious in thofe dark days, and literary indulgences, 
which have now become almoft as neceffary to us as our daily 
food, were luxuries enjoyed by few. 

There was, however, a refpeclable, but very mifcellaneous 
collection of books juft beginning to be made by the proprie- 
tors of the Bofton Athenaeum ; an institution imitated chiefly 
from the Athenaeum of Liverpool, and eftablifhed in an unpre- 
tending building not far from the houfe of the Prefcott family 
in Tremont Street. Its real founder was Mr. William S. Shaw, 
who, by a fort of common confent, exercifed over it a control 
all but unlimited, acting for many years gratuitoufly as its 
librarian. He was a near connection of the two Prefidents 
Adams, the firft of whom he had ferved as private fecretary 
during his adminiftration of the government ; and in confe- 
quence of this relationship, when Mr. John Quincy Adams was 
fent as Minifter of the United States to Ruffia, he depofited 
his library, confifting of eight or ten thoufand volumes, in 
the Athenaeum, and thus materially increafed its refources 
during his abfence abroad. The young fons of its proprietors 
had then, by the rules of the inftitution, no real right to 



Chap. I. 

1808 - 181 1. 
JEt. 12-15. 

Difficulty of get- 
ting books. 



Bofton Athenae- 
um. 



W. S. Shaw. 



IO 



Chap. 1. 

1808 - 181 1 
JEt. 12-15 



His idle reading. 



Does not love 
ftudy. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



frequent its rooms; but Mr. Shaw, with all his paffion for 
books, and his anxiety to keep fafely and strictly thofe in- 
trufted to him, was a kind-hearted man, who loved bright 
boys, and often gave them privileges in his Athenaeum to 
which they had no regular claim. William was one of thofe 
who were moft favored, and who moft gladly availed them- 
felves of the opportunity which was thus given them. He 
reforted to the Athenaeum, and to the part of it containing 
Mr. Adams's library, as few boys cared to do, and fpent many 
of his play-hours there in a fort of idle reading, which prob- 
ably did little to nourifh his mind, but which, as he after- 
wards loved to acknowledge, had a decided influence in form- 
ing his literary tendencies and taftes. 5 

Of courfe fuch reading was not very felecl:. He chiefly fan- 
cied extravagant romances and books of wild adventure. How 
completely he was carried away by the " Amadis de Gaula" 
in Southey's tranflation he recorded long afterwards, when he 
looked back upon his boyifh admiration, not only with fur- 
prife, but with a natural regret that all fuch feelings belonged 
to the remote paft. The age of chivalry, he faid fadly, was 
gone by for him. 6 

But, whatever may have been his general reading at this 
early period, he certainly did not, in the years immediately 
preceding his college life, affect careful ftudy, or ferious intel- 
lectual cultivation of any kind. His leflbns he learned eafily, 
but he made a characteristic distinction between fuch as were 
indifpenfable for his admiflion to the Univerfity, and fuch as 
were prefcribed merely to increafe his claflical knowledge and 
accomplishments. He was always careful to learn the firft 
well, but equally careful to do no more, or at leaft not to feem 
willing to do it, left yet further claims mould be made upon 
him. I remember well his cheerful and happy recitations 
of the QEdipus Tyrannus ; but he was very fretful at being 
required to read the more difficult Prometheus Vinctus of 

5 Letter of W. H. Gardiner, Efq. to 6 North American Review, January, 

T. G. Cary, Efq., MS. 1850. 



School Days. 



1 1 



iEfchylus, becaufe it was not a part of the courfe of ftudy ; Chap - i - 
which all muft pafs through. Horace, too, of which we read |i8o8 



Si 



JEt. 12-15. 



Gardiner. 



fome parts together, interefted and excited him beyond his 
years, but Juvenal he difliked, and Perfius he could not be 
made to read at all. He was, in fhort, neither more nor lefs 
than a thoroughly natural, bright boy, who loved play better 
than work, but who could work well under sufficient induce- 
ments and penalties. 

During the whole of his fchool days in Bofton, although 
he was a general favorite among the boys, his friend and jidus intimacy with 
Achates was a fon of his teacher, Dr. Gardiner, of just about 
his own age ; and, if not naturally of a more ftaid and fober 
character, kept by a wife parental difcipline under more re- 
ftraint. It was a happy intimacy, and one that was never 
broken or difturbed. Their paths in life diverged, indeed, 
fomewhat later, and they neceffarily faw each other lefs as 
they became engroffed by purfuits fo different; — the one as a 
fevere, retired ftudent ; the other as an active, eminent lawyer, 
much too bufy with the affairs of others to be feen often out of 
his own office and family. But their attachment always refted 
on the old foundation, and the friend of his boyhood became 
in time Mr. Prefcott's chief confidential advifer in his worldly 
affairs, and was left at laft the fole executor of his confiderable 
eftate. 

In the firft few years of their acquaintance they were con- 
ftantly together. Dr. Gardiner gave inftruclion only in Greek, 
Latin, and Englifh. The two boys, therefore, took private 
leffons, as they were called, of other teachers in arithmetic 
and in writing ; but made fmall progrefs in either. They 
played, too, with French, Italian, and Spaniih, but accom- | 
plifhed little ; for they cared nothing about thefe ftudies, 
which they accounted fuperfluous, and which they purfued 
only to pleafe their friends. They managed, however, always 
to have the fame inftrucliors, and fo were hardly feparated at 
all. They learnt, indeed, the flight and eafy leffons fet them, 
but were careful to do no more, and fo made no real progrefs. 



Their ftudies to- 
gether. 



12 



Chap. I. 

1808 - 1 81 1 
JEt. 12-15 

Their amufe- 
ments. 



Mimic battles. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Much of their free time they gave to amufements not alto- 
gether idle, but certainly not tending very directly to intel- 
lectual culture. Some of them were fuch as might have been 
readily expected from their age. Thus, after frequenting a cir- 
cus, they imitated what they had feen, until their performances 
were brought to a difaftrous conclufion by cruelly fcorching a 
favorite family cat that was compelled to play a part in them. 
At another time they fired piftols till they disturbed the quiet 
neighborhood, and came near killing a horfe in the Prefcott 
ftable. This was all natural enough, becaufe it was boyifh, 
though it was a little more adventurous, perhaps, than boys' 
fports commonly are. Of the fame fort, too, was a good deal 
of mifchief in which they indulged themfelves, with little 
harm to anybody, in the ftreets as they went to their fchool 
exercifes, efpecially in the evening, and then came home again, 
looking all the graver for their frolics. But two of their 
amufements were characteristic and peculiar, and were, per- 
haps, not without influence on the lives of each of them, and 
efpecially on the life of the hiftorian. 

They devifed games of battles of all forts, fuch as they had 
found in their fchool-books, among the Greeks and Romans, 
or fuch as filled the newfpapers of the time during the conteft 
between the Englifh and the French in the Spanifh Peninfula ; 
carrying them out by an apparatus more than commonly in- 
genious for boys of their age. At firft, it was merely bits of 
paper, arranged fo as to indicate the different arms and com- 
manders of the different fquadrons ; which were then thrown 
into heaps, and cut up at random with fhears as ruthlefs as 
thofe of the Fates ; quite fevering many of the imaginary 
combatants fo as to leave no hope of life, and curtailing others 
of their fair proportions in a way to indicate wounds more or 
lefs dangerous. But this did not laft long. Soon they came 
to more perfonal and foldier-like encounters ; drefling them- 
felves up in portions of old armor which they found among 
the curiofities of the Athenaeum, and which, I fear, they had 
little right to ufe as they did, albeit their value for any purpofe 



Amusements. 



was fmall indeed. What was peculiar about thefe amufements 
was, that there was always an idea of a conteft in them, — 
generally of a battle, — whether in the plains of Latium with 
iEneas, or on Bunker Hill under William's grandfather, or 
in the fanciful combats of knights-errant in the "Amadis de 
Gaula"; and Prefcott apparently cared more about them on 
this account than on any other. 

The other efpecial amufement of the two friends was that 
of alternately telling ftories invented as they went along. It 
was oftener their ftreet-talk than anything elfe ; and, if the 
thread of the fiction in hand were broken off, by arriving at 
fchool or in any other way, they refumed it as foon as the 
interruption ceafed, and fo continued until the whole was fin- 
ifhed ; each improvifing a complete feries of adventures for 
the entertainment of the other and of nobody elfe. Prefcott's 
inventions were generally of the wildeft ; for his imagination 
was lively, and his head was full of the romances that pre- 
vailed in our circulating libraries before Scott's time. But 
they both enjoyed this exercife of their faculties heartily, and 
each thought the other's ftories admirable. The hiftorian 
always remembered thefe favorite amufements of his boyifh 
days with fatisfaction ; and, only two or three years before 
his death, when he had one of his grandchildren on his 
knee, and was gratifying the boy's demand for a fairy tale, he 
cried out, as Mr. Gardiner entered the room : " Ah, there 's 
the man that could tell you ftories. You know, William," he 
continued, addreffing his friend, " I never had any inventive 
faculty in my life ; all I have done in the way of ftory-telling, 
in my later years, has been by diligent hard work." Such, 
near the clofe of his life, was his modeft eftimate of his own 
brilliant powers and performances. 

How much thefe amufements may have influenced the 
character of the narrator of the Conqueft of Mexico, it is 
not porTible to determine. Probably not much. But one thing 
is certain. They were not amufements common with boys of 
his age ; and in his fubfequent career his power of defcribing 



13 



Chap. I. 

1808 - 1811. 
JEt. 12-15. 



Story-telling. 



H 



Chap. I. 

1 8 1 1 . 

JEt. 15. 

Enters Harvard 
College. 



Letter to his 
father. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



battles, and his power of relating a fucceffion of adventures, 
are among his moft remarkable attributes. 7 

But his boyiih days were now over. In Auguft, 181 1, he 
was admitted to the Sophomore Clafs in Harvard College, 
having palled his examination with credit. The next day he 
wrote to his father, then attending the Supreme Court at 
Portland, in Maine, the following letter, characlieriftic of the 
eafy relations which fubfifted between them, but which, eafy 
as they were, did not prevent the fon, through his whole life, 
from looking on his admirable father with a fincere veneration. 

TO THE HON. WILLIAM PRESCOTT. 

Bolton, Aug. 23, [18 11]. 

Dear Father, 
I now write you a few lines to inform you of my fate. Yefterday at eight 
o'clock I was ordered to the Prefident's, and there, together with a Carolinian, 
Middleton, 8 was examined for Sophomore. When we were firft ufhered into 
their prefence, they looked like fo many judges of the Inquifition. We were 
ordered down into the parlor, almoft frightened out of our wits, to be examined 
by each feparately ; but we foon found them quite a pleafant fort of chaps. 
The Prefident fent us down a good dim of pears, and treated us very much like 
gentlemen. 9 It was not ended in the morning ; but we returned in the afternoon, 
when Profeflbr Ware examined us in Grotius de Veritate. 10 We found him very 
good-natured, for I happened to afk him a queftion in theology, which made him 
laugh fo that he was obliged to cover his face with his hands. At half part 



7 For the facts in this account of the 
fchool-boy days of Mr. Prefcott, I am 
partly indebted, as I am for much elfe 
in this memoir, — efpecially what relates 
to his college career, — to Mr. William 
Howard Gardiner, the early friend re- 
ferred to in the text. 

8 This was, of courfe, his firft knowl- 
edge of Mr. Arthur Middleton, with whom, 
as a claffmate, he was afterwards much con- 
nected, and who, when he was Secretary 
of Legation and Charge a* Affaires of the 
United States at Madrid, rendered his ear- 
ly friend important literary fervices, as we 
mail fee when we reach that period of 
Mr. Prefcott's life. Mr. Middleton died 
in 1853. 



9 Prefident Kirkland, who had only a 
few months earlier become the head of the 
Univerfity, will always be remembered by 
thofe who knew him, not only for the 
richnefs and originality of his mind and 
for his great perfpicacity, but for the i 
kindlinefs of his nature. The days, how- 
ever, in which a dim of pears followed 
an examination, were, I think, very few 
even in his time, — connected with no tra- 
ditions of the paft, and not fuited to the 
ftate of difcipline fince. It was, I fufpett, 
only a compliment to William's family, 
who had been parifhioners of Dr. Kirk- 
land, when he was a clergyman in Bofton. 

10 Dr. Henry Ware was Hollis Pro- 
feflbr of Divinity. 



Enters College. 



three our fate was decided, and we were declared ' Sophomores of Harvard 
Univerfity.' 

As you would like to know how I appeared, I will give you the converfation, 
verbatim, with Mr. Frifbie, when I went to fee him after the examination. I 
afked him, c Did I appear well in my examination ?' Anfwer. ' Yes.' Queftion. 
c Did I appear very well, Sir ? ' Anfwer. c Why are you fo particular, young 
man? Yes, you did yourfelf a great deal of credit.' « 

I feel to-day twenty pounds lighter than I did yefterday. I mall dine at 
Mr. Gardiner's. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner both fay that on me depends William's 
going to college or not. If I behave well, he will go \ if not, that he certainly 
fhall not go. Mr. W. P. Mafon has afked me to dine with him on Commence- 
ment Day, as he gives a dinner. I believe I fhall go. As I had but little time, 
I thought it beft to tell a long ftory, and write it badly, rather than a fhort 

one written well. I have been to fee Mr. H this morning; — no news. 

Remember me to your fellow-travellers, C, & M., &c, &c. Love to mother, 
whofe affectionate fon I remain, 

Wm. Hickling Prescott. 

II Before this examination, William had, lege, and fubfequently one of its favorite 
for a fhort time, been under the private Profeffors, — too early taken away by 
and efpecial inftru&ion of Mr. Frifbie, death, in 1822. 

who was then a Tutor in Harvard Col- 



15 



Chap. I. 

1811. 
^Et. 15. 




i6 



Chap. II. 

1811. 
JEt. 15. 



His taftes and 
ftudies. 




CHAPTER II. 

1811-1815. 

College Life. — Good Resolutions. — Injury to Sight. — Immediate Effects. 
— State of the Eye. — Relations with the Perfon who inflicted the In- 
jury. — Studies Jubfequent to the Injury. - — Mathematics. — Latin and 
Greek. — Phi Beta Kappa Society. — Graduated. — Studies. — Severe 
Inflammation of the Eye. — Char abler under Trial. — Anxiety about his 
Health. — Is to vifit Europe. 

T the time William thus gayly entered on his 
collegiate career, he had, thanks to the excel- 
lent training he had received from Dr. Gar- 
diner, a good tafte formed and forming in 
Englifh literature, and he probably knew more 
of Latin and Greek — not of Latin and Greek 
literature, but of the languages of Greece and Rome — than 
moft of thofe who entered college with him knew when they 
were graduated. But, on the other hand, he had no liking 
for mathematics, and never acquired any ; nor did he ever 
fancy metaphyfical difcuffions and fpeculations. His pofition 
in his clafs was, of courfe, determined by thefe circumftances, 
and he was willing that it mould be. But he did not like ab- 
folutely to fail of a refpeclable rank. It would not have been 
becoming the character of a cultivated gentleman, to which 
at that time he more earneftly afpired than to any other ; nor 
would it have fatisned the juft expectations of his family, 




Shtdy and Conduct. 



which always had much influence with him. It was difficult 
for him, however, to make the efforts and the facrifices in- 
difpenfable to give him the pofition of a real fcholar. He 
adopted, indeed, rules for the hours, and even the minutes, 
that he would devote to each particular ftudy ; but he was 
fo careful never to exceed them, that it was plain his heart 
was not in the matter, and that he could not reafonably hope 
to fucceed by fuch enforced and mechanical arrangements. 
Still, he had already a ftrong will concealed under a gay and 
light-hearted exterior. This faved him from many dangers. 
He was always able to flop fhort of what he deemed flagrant 
excefTes, and to keep within the limits, though rather loofe 
ones, which he had prefcribed to himfelf. His ftandard for the 
character of a gentleman varied, no doubt, at this period, and 
fometimes was not fo high on the fcore of morals as it mould 
have been ; but he always acted up to it, and never pafTed the 
world's line of honor, or expofed himfelf to academical cen- 
fures by paffing the lefs flexible line drawn by college rules. 
He was, however, willing to run very near to both of them. 

Among the modes he adopted at this time to regulate his 
conduct, was one which had much more influence with him 
later, than it had at firft. It was that of making good refo- 
lutions ; — a practice in which he perfevered through life to 
an extraordinary extent, not always heeding whether he kept 
them with great exactnefs, but fure to repeat them as often as 
they were broken, until, at laft, fome of them took effect, and 
his ultimate purpofe was, in part at leaft, accomplifhed. He 
pardoned himfelf, I fuppofe, too eafily for his manifold neg- 
lects and breaches of the compacts he had thus made with his 
confcience ; but there was repentance at the bottom of all, 
and his character was ftrengthened by the practice. The early 
part of his college career, however, when for the firft time 
he left the too gentle reftraints of his father's houfe, was lefs 
affected by this fyftem of felf-control, and was the moft dan- 
gerous period of his life. Upon portions of it he afterwards 
looked back with regret. 



17 



Chap. II. 

1811 - 1812. 
JEt. 15-16. 



Rules for work. 



Standard for 
character. 



Irregularities. 



i8 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Chap. II. 

1811 - 1812 
JEt. 15- 16. 

Habit of making 
refolutions. 



Indulgences. 



Frankneft 



"It was about this time," — fays Mr. Gardiner, in a very interefting paper 
concerning his acquaintance with Mr. Prefcott, which he has been good enough 
to place at my difpofition, — " it was about this time, that is, pretty early in his 
college life, when the firft excitements of perfect liberty of action were a little 
abated, that he began to form good refolutions, — to form them, not to keep 
them. This was, fo far as I remember, the feeble beginning of a procefs of 
frequent felf-examination and moral felf-control, which he afterwards cultivated 
and practifed to a degree beyond all example that has come under my obferva- 
tion in cafes of like conftitutional tendency. It was, I conceive, the truly great 
point of his moral character, and the chief foundation of all he accomplifhed 
in after life as a literary man ; a point which lay always concealed to tranfient 
obfervers under lightnefs and gayety of manner. 

" This habit of forming diftinct refolutions about all forts of things, fome- 
times important, but often in themfelves the mereft trifles in the world, grew up 
rapidly to an extent that became rather ludicrous ; efpecially as it was accom- 
panied by another habit, that of thinking aloud, and concealing nothing about 
himfelf, which led him to announce to the firft friend he met his lateft new refo- 
lution. The practice, I apprehend, muft have reached its acme about the time 
when he informed me one day that he had juft made a new refolution, which 
was, — fince he found he could not keep thofe which he had made before, — 
that he would never make another refolution as long as he lived. It is needlefs 
to fay that this was kept but a very fhort time. 

" Thefe refolutions, during college days, related often to the number of hours, 
nay, the number of minutes, per day to be appropriated to each particular exer- 
cife or ftudy ; the number of recitations and public prayers per week that he 
would not fail to attend ; the number of times per week that he would not 
exceed in attending balls, theatrical entertainments in Bofton, &c, &c. What 
was moft obfervable in this fort of accounts that he ufed to keep with himfelf 
was, that the errors were all on one fide. Cafual temptations eafily led him, at 
this time of life, to break through the feverer reftrictions of his rule, but it was 
matter of high confcience with him never to curtail the full quantity of indul- 
gences which it allowed. He would be very fure not to run one minute over, 
however he might fometimes fall Jhort of the full time for learning a particular 
leflbn, which he ufed to con over with his watch before him, left by any inad- 
vertence he might cheat himfelf into too much ftudy. 

" On the fame principle, he was careful never to attend any greater number 
of college exercifes, nor any lefs number of evening diverfions in Bofton, than 
he had bargained for with himfelf. Then, as he found out by experience the 
particular circumftances which ferved as good excufes for infractions of his rule, 
he would begin to complicate his accounts with himfelf by introducing fets of 
fixed exceptions, ftringing on amendment, as it were, after amendment to the 
general law, until it became extremely difficult for himfelf to tell what his rule 
actually was in its application to the new cafes which arofe ; and, at laft, he 
would take the whole fubject, fo to fpeak, into a new draft, embodying it in a 
bran-new refolution. And what is particularly curious is, that all the cafuiftry 
attending this procefs was fure to be publifhed, as it went along, to all his 
intimates. 



Injury to his Rye. 



" The manner in which he ufed to compound with his confcience in fuch 
matters is well illuftrated by an anecdote, which properly belongs to a little 
later period, but which may well enough be inferted here. It is one which I 
was lately put in mind of by Mr. J. C. Gray, but which I had heard that 
gentleman tell long ago in Prefcott's prefence, who readily admitted it to be 
fubftantially true. The incident referred to occurred at the time he and Mr. 
Gray were travelling together in Europe. An oculift, or phyfician, whom he 
had confulted at Paris, had advifed him, among other things, to live lefs freely, 
and when pufhed by his patient, as was his wont, to fix a very precife limit to 
the quantity of wine he might take, his advifer told him that he ought never 
to exceed two glafTes a day. This rule he forthwith announced his refolution 
to adhere to fcrupuloufly. And he did. But his manner of obferving it was 
peculiar. At every new houfe of entertainment they reached in their travels, 
one of the flrft things Prefcott did was to require the waiter to fhow him fpeci- 
mens of all the wine-glafTes the houfe afforded. He would then pick out from 
among them the largeft ; and this, though it might contain two or three times 
the quantity 0*" a common wine-glafs, he would have fet by his plate as his 
meafure at dinner to obferve the rule in." 

But juft at the period of his college hiftory to which Mr. 
Gardiner chiefly refers, or a very little later, the painful acci- 
dent befell him which, in its confequences, changed the whole 
afped: of the world to him, and tended, more than any Angle 
event in his life, to make him what he at laft became. I refer, 
of courfe, to the accident which fo fatally impaired his light. 
It occurred in the Commons Hall, one day after dinner, in his 
Junior year. On this occafion there was fome rude frolicking 
among the undergraduates, fuch as was not very rare when the 
college officers had left the tables, as they frequently did, a few 
minutes before the room was emptied. It was not, however, 
on this particular occafion a confiderable diforder, and Prefcott 
had no fhare in what there was. But when he was paffing 
out of the door of the Hall, his attention was attracted by 
the difturbance going on behind him. He turned his head 
quickly to fee what it was, and at the fame inflant received 
a blow from a large, hard piece of bread, thrown undoubtedly 
at random, and in mere thoughtleffnefs and gayety. It ftruck 
the open eye ; — a rare occurrence in the cafe of that vigilant 
organ, which, on the approach of the flighteft danger, is almoft 
always protected by an inftant and inftin&ive clofing of the 



*9 



Chap. II. 

1 81 1 - 1812. 
JEt. 15-16. 

Compromifes 
with his con- 
fcience. 



Accident to his 
eye. 



20 



Chap. II. 

1813. 

JEt. 17. 



Effeds of the 
accident. 



Medical treat- 
ment. 



One eye gone. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



lids. But here there was no notice, — no warning. The mif- 
file, which muft have been thrown with great force, ftruck the 
very difk of the eye itfelf. It was the left eye. He fell, — and 
was immediately brought to his father's houfe in town, where, 
in the courfe of two or three hours from the occurrence of the 
accident, he was in the hands of Dr. James Jackfon, the kind 
friend, as well as the wife medical advifer, of his father's family. 1 

The firft effects of the blow were remarkable. They were, 
in fadt, fuch as commonly attend a concuffion of the brain. 
The ftrength of the patient was inftantly and completely 
proftrated. Sicknefs at the ftomach followed. His pulfe was 
feeble. His face became pale and fhrunken, and the whole 
tone of his fyftem was reduced fo low, that he could not fit up 
in bed. But his mind was calm and clear, and he was able to 
give a diftinct account of the accident that had befallen him, 
and of what had preceded and followed it. 

Under fuch circumftances no active treatment was deemed 
advifable. Quiet was ftrictly prefcribed. Whatever could tend 
to the leaft excitement, phyfical or intellectual, was forbidden. 
And then nature was left to herfelf. This, no doubt, was the 
wifeft courfe. At any rate, the fyftem, which had at firft yielded 
{o alarmingly to the mock, gradually recovered its tone, and in 
a few weeks he returned to Cambridge, and purfued his ftudies 
as if nothing very ferious had happened ; — a little more cau- 
tioufly, perhaps, in fome refpects, but probably with no dimi- 
nution of fuch very moderate diligence as he had previoufly 
practifed. 2 But the eye that had been ftruck was gone. No 



1 There is a graceful tribute to Dr. 
Jackfon in Prefcott's Memoir of Mr. John 
Pickering, where, noticing the intimacy 
of thefe two diilinguifhed men, he fays, 
that in London Mr. Pickering was much 
with Dr. Jackfon, who was then " acquir- 
ing the rudiments of the profeffion which 
he was to purfue through a long feries of 
years with fo much honor to himfelf and 
fuch widely extended benefit to the com- 
munity." Collections of the MafTachu- 
fetts Hiftorical Society, Third Series, Vol. 
X. p. 208. 



2 This account of the original injury 
to Mr. Prefcott's eye, and the notices of 
his fubfequent illneffes and death, in this 
Memoir, are abridged from an interefting 
and important medical letter, which Dr. 
Jackfon was good enough to addrefs to me 
in June, 1859, and which may be found 
entire in a little volume entitled, "Anoth- 
er Letter to a Young Phyfician," (Boflon, 
1861,) pp. 130-156. 



Injury to his Eye. 



external mark, either then or afterwards, indicated the injury 
that had been inflicted; and, although a glimmering light was 
ftill perceptible through the ruined organ, there was none that 
could be made ufeful for any of the practical purpofes of life. 
On a careful examination, fuch as I once made, with magnify- 
ing lenfes, at his requeft, under the direction of a diftinguifhed 
oculift, a difference could indeed be detected between the in- 
jured eye and the other, and fometimes, as I fat with him, I 
have thought that it feemed more dim ; but to common obfer- 
vation, in fociety or in the ftreets, as in the well-known cafe of 
the author of the "Paradife Loft/' no change was perceptible. 
It was, in fact, a cafe of obfcure, deep paralyfis of the retina, 
and as fuch was beyond the reach of the healing art from the 
moment the blow was given. 

One circumftance, however, in relation to the calamity that 
thus fell on him in the frefhnefs of his youth, mould not be 
overlooked, becaufe it (hows, even at this early period, the 
development of ftrong traits in his character, fuch as marked 
his fubfequent life. I refer to the fact that he rarely mentioned 
the name of the young man who had thus inflicted on him 
an irreparable injury, and that he never mentioned it in a way 
which could have given pain either to him or to thofe neareft 
to him. Indeed, he fo often fpoke to me of the whole affair as 
a mere chance-medley, for which nobody could be to blame, 
and of which little could be diftinctly known, that, for a time, 
I fuppofed he was really ignorant, and preferred to remain ig- 
norant, from whofe hand the fatal blow had come. But it was 
not fo. He always knew who it was ; and, years afterwards, 
when the burden of the injury he had received was much 
heavier on his thoughts than it had been at firft, and when an 
opportunity occurred to do an important kindnefs to the un- 
happy perfon who had inflicted it, he did it promptly and cor- 
dially. It was a Chriftian act, — the more truly Christian, 
becaufe, although the blow was certainly given by accident, he 
who inflicted it never expreffed any fympathy with the terrible 
fuffering he had occafioned. At leaft, the fufferer, to whom, if 



21 



Chap. II. 

1813. 
JEt. 17. 



Relations with 
the perfon 
who inflicled 
the accidental 
blow. 



22 

Chap. II. 

i 813 - 1 814. 
Mt. 17-18. 

Returns to his 
ftudies. 



Deiire to diftin- 
guifh himfelf. 



Diflike of math- 
ematics. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



to anybody, he fhould have expreffed it, never knew that he 
regretted what he had done. 

When William returned to College and renamed his ftudies 
he had, no doubt, fomewhat different views and purpofes in life 
from thofe which had moft influenced him before his accident. 
The quiet and fuffering of his dark room had done their work, 
at leaft in part. He was, compared with what he had been, 
a fobered man. Not that his fpirits were ferioufly affected by 
it. They furvived even this. But inducements and leifure for 
reflection had been afforded him fuch as he had never known 
before, and, whether the thoughts that followed his accident 
were the caufe or not, he now determined to acquire a more 
refpectable rank in his clafs as a fcholar, than he had earlier 
deemed worth the trouble. 

It was fomewhat late to do it ; but, having no little courage 
and very confiderable knowledge in elegant literature, he in 
part fucceeded. His remarkable memory enabled him to get 
on well with the Englifh ftudies ; even with thofe for which, 
as for the higher metaphyfics, he had a hearty difrelifh. But 
mathematics and geometry feemed to conftitute an infurmount- 
able obftacle. He had taken none of the preparatory fteps to 
qualify himfelf for them, and it was impoflible now to go back 
to the elements, and lay a furBcient foundation. He knew, in 
fact, nothing about them, and never did afterwards. He be- 
came defperate, therefore, and took to defperate remedies. 

The firft was to commit to memory, with perfect exactnefs, 
the whole mathematical demonftration required of his clafs 
on any given day, fo as to be able to recite every fyllable and 
letter of it as they ftood in the book, without comprehending 
the demonftration at all, or attaching any meaning to the 
words and figns of which it was compofed. It was, no doubt, 
a feat of memory of which few men would have been capable, 
but it was alfo one whofe worthleffhefs a careful teacher would 
very foon detect, and one, in itfelf, fo intolerably onerous, that 
no pupil could long practife it. Befides, it was, a trick, and a 
fraud of any kind, except to cheat himfelf, was contrary to his 
very nature. 



Trotibles in College. 



After trying it, therefore, a few times, and enjoying what- 
ever amufement it could afford him and his friends, who were 
in the fecret, he took another method more characteriftic. 
He went to his ProferTor, and told him the truth ; not only 
his ignorance of geometry, and his belief that he was incapable 
of underftanding a word of it, but the mode by which he had 
feemed to comply with the requifitions of the recitation-room, 
while in fact he evaded them ; adding, at the fame time, that, 
as a proof of mere induftry, he was willing to perfevere in 
committing the leflbns to memory, and reciting by rote what 
he did not and could not underftand, if fuch recitations were 
required of him, but that he would rather be permitted to 
ufe his time more profitably. The Profeffor, ftruck with the 
honefty and fincerity of his pupil, as well as with the Angularity 
of the cafe, and feeing no likelihood that a fimilar one would 
occur, merely exacted his attendance at the regular hours, from 
which, in fact, he had no power to excufe him ; but gave him 
to underftand that he mould not be troubled further with the 
duty of reciting. The folemn farce, therefore, of going to the 
exercife, book in hand, for feveral months, without looking at 
the leflbn, was continued, and Prefcott was always grateful to 
the kindly Profeffor for his forbearance. 

On another occafion, he was in danger of more ferious 
trouble with one of the ProfefTors. In this cafe it arofe from 
the circumftance that, at all periods of his life, Prefcott was 
now and then affected with a nervous laugh, or fit of laughter, 
which, as it was always without adequate caufe, fometimes 
broke out moft inopportunely. In a very interefting sketch of 
fome paffages in his life, by his friend Gardiner, which I have 
received fince this Memoir was prepared, there is an account 
of two fuch outbreaks, both of which I will give here, becaufe 
they are connected, and belong to nearly the fame period in 
his life, and becaufe the laft is ftrictly to be placed among his 
college adventures. Speaking of this involuntary merriment, 
Mr. Gardiner fays : — 

" How mirthful he was, — how fond of a merry laugh, — how overflowing 



*l 



Chap. II. 
814. 



1813 
Mr. 



Frank mode of 
getting rid of 
their ftudv. 



Other troubles. 



2 4 



Chap. II. 

1 813 - 1 8 14. 

Mt. 17-18. 

Involuntary- 
laughter. 



Breaks up fome 
private theat- 
ricals. 



Difturbs a col- 
lege exercife. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



with means to excite one on all admiflible occafions, — I have already men- 
tioned. But what I now fpeak of was fomething beyond this. He had a fenfe 
of the ludicrous fo ftrong, that it feemed at times quite to overpower him. He 
would laugh on fuch occafions, — not vociferoufly indeed, but moft inordinately, 
and for a long time together, as if poffeffed by the fpirit of Momus himfelf. It 
feemed to be fomething perfectly uncontrollable, provoked often by the flighteft 
apparent caufe ; and fometimes, in his younger days, under circumftances that 
made its indulgence a pofitive impropriety. This feemed only to aggravate the 
difeafe. I call it a difeafe ; for it deprived him at the time of all felf-control, 
and in one of the other fex would have been perhaps hyfterical. But there was 
fomething irrefiftibly comic in it to the by-ftanders, accompanied, as it ufed to 
be, by imperfect efforts, through drolleries uttered in broken, half-intelligible 
fentences, to communicate the ludicrous idea. This original ludicrous idea he 
feldom fucceeded in communicating ; but the infection of laughter would fpread, 
by a fort of animal magnetifm, from one to another, till I have feen a whole 
company perfectly convulfed with it, no one of whom could have told what in 
the world he was laughing at, unlefs it were at the fight of Prefcott, fo utterly 
overcome, and ftruggling in vain to exprefs himfelf. 

" To give a better idea of this, I may cite an inftance that I witneffed in his 
younger days, either fhortly before, or just after, his flrft European tour. A 
party of young gentlemen and ladies — he and I among them — undertook to 
entertain themfelves and their friends with fome private theatricals. After having 
performed one or two light pieces with fome fuccefs, we attempted the more 
ambitious tafk of getting up Julius Caefar. It proceeded only to two partial 
rehearfals ; but the manner in which they ended is to the prefent point. When 
all had fufficiently ftudied their parts, we met for a final rehearfal. The part of 
Mark Antony had been allotted to Prefcott. He got through with it extremely 
well till he came to the fpeech in the third acl: which begins, c O pardon me, 
thou bleeding piece of earth ! ' This was addreffed to one of our company, 
extended on the floor, and enacting the part of Caefar's murdered corpfe, with 
becoming ftillnefs and rigidity. At this point of the performance the ludi- 
crous feized upon Prefcott to fuch a degree, that he burft out into one of his 
grand fits of laughing, and laughed fo immoderately and fo infe&ioufly, 
that the whole company, corpfe and all, followed fuit, and a fcene of tumult 
enfued which put a ftop to further rehearfal. Another evening we attempted 
it again, after a folemn affurance from Prefcott that he mould certainly com- 
mand himfelf, and not give way to fuch a folly again. But he did, — in pre- 
cifely the fame place, and with the fame refult. After that we gave up Julius 
Caefar. 

" A more curious inftance occurred while he was in college. I was not 
prefent at this, but have heard him tell it repeatedly in after life. On fome 
occafion it happened that he went to the ftudy of the Rhetorical Profeffor, for 
the purpofe of receiving a private leffon in elocution. The Profeffor and his 
pupil were entirely alone. Prefcott took his attitude as orator, and began to 
declaim the fpeech he had committed for the purpofe ; but, after proceeding 
through a fentence or two, fomething ludicrous fuddenly came acrofs him, and 



Success in College. 



it was all over with him at once, — juft as when he came to the 'bleeding 
piece of earth,' in the fcene above narrated. He was feized with juft fuch 
an uncontrollable fit of laughter. The Profeflbr — no laughing man — looked 
grave, and tried to check him ; but the more he tried to do fo, the more Prefcott 
was convulfed. The Profeflbr began to think his pupil intended to infult him. 
His dark features grew darker, and he began to fpeak in a tone of fevere repri- 
mand. This only feemed to aggravate Prefcott's paroxyfm, while he endeavored, 
in vain, to beg pardon ; for he could not utter an intelligible word. At laft, the 
fenfe of the extreme ludicroufnefs of the fituation, and the perception of Pref- 
cott's utter helpleflhefs, feized hold of the Profeflbr himfelf. He had caught 
the infection. His features fuddenly relaxed, and he too began to laugh ; and 
prefently the two, Profeflbr and pupil, the more they looked at each other the 
more they laughed, both abfolutely holding on to their fides, and the tears rolling 
down their cheeks. Of courfe, there was an end of all reprimand, and equally 
an end of all declamation. The Profeflbr, as became him, recovered himfelf 
firft, but only enough to fay : ' Well, Prefcott, you may go. This will do for 
to-day.' " 

Mathematics, by the indulgence of his teacher, being dif- 
pofed of in the manner I have mentioned, and feveral other 
of the feverer ftudies being made little more than exercifes of 
memory, he was obliged to depend, for the diftinclion he 
defired to obtain at college, and which his family demanded 
from him, almoft entirely on his progfefs in Latin and Greek, 
and on his proficiency in Englifh literature. Thefe, however, 
together with his zeal in purfuing them, were, by the kindnefs 
of thofe in academical authority, admitted to be fumcient. He 
received, in the latter part of his college career, fome of the 
cuftomary honors of fuccefsful fcholarfhip, and at its clofe a 
Latin poem was affigned to him as his exercife for Commence- 
ment. 

No honor, however, that he received at college was valued 
fo much by him, or had been io much an object of his ambi- 
tion, as his admiffion to the Society of the Phi Beta Kappa, 
which was compofed, in its theory and pretentions and gen- 
erally in its practice, of a moderate number of the beft fcholars 
in the two upper claries. As the felection was made by the 
undergraduates themfelves, and as a fingle black-ball excluded 
the candidate, it was a real diftinction, and Prefcott always 
liked to ftand well with his fellows, later in life no lefs than 
4 



25 
Chap. II. 

1813-1814. 
JEt. 17-18. 



Succefs in claffi- 
cal ftudies. 



Phi Beta Kappa 
Society. 



26 



Chap. II. 



I 8 14. 
JEt. 1 



Latin Poem. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



in youth. From his own experience, therefore, he regarded 
this old and peculiar fociety with great favor, and defired at 
all periods to maintain its privileges and influence in the Uni- 
verfity. 3 

The honor that he received on his graduation was felt to be 
appropriate to his taftes, and was not a little valued by him 
and by his father, as a proof of diligence in his claffical ftudies. 
It is a pity that the poem cannot be found ; but it feems to be 
irrecoverably loft. Only a few months before his death, his 
college claffmate, Mr. S. D. Bradford, fent him one of a few 
copies, which he had privately printed for his children and 
friends, of his own fcattered mifcellanies, among which was a 
college exercife in Latin profe. Prefcott then faid, alluding to 
his own Latin poem : " I wifh I had taken as good care of it 
as you have of your exercifes. I have hunted for it in every 
quarter where I fuppofed I could have miflaid it, but in vain. 
If I mould find it," he adds, with his accuftomed kindlinefs, 
" I fhall feel content if the Latin will pafs mufter as well as 
in your performance." 

It was a pleafant little poem, on Hope, " Ad Spem," and, if 
I remember rightly, it was in hexameters and pentameters. It 
was delivered in a hot, clear day of Auguft, 18 14, in the old 
meeting-houfe at Cambridge, to a crowded audience of the 
moft diftinguifhed people of Bofton and the neighborhood, 
attracted in no fmall degree by an entertainment which Mr. 
and Mrs. Prefcott were to give the fame afternoon in honor of 
their fon's fuccefs, — one of the very laft of the many large 
entertainments formerly given at Cambridge on fuch occafions, 



3 The $ B K, it fhould be remembered, 
was, at that period, a fociety of much 
more dignity and confequence than it is 
now. It had an annual public exhibition, 
largely attended by fuch graduates as were 
its members, and, indeed, by the more 
cultivated portion of the community gen- 
erally. The undergraduates were in this 
way affociated at once with the prominent 
and diftinguifhed among their predeceffors, 



who were themfelves pleafed thus to recall 
the rank, both as fcholars and as gentle- 
men, which they had early gained, and 
which they Hill valued. Membership in 
fuch an affociation was precifely the fort 
of honor which a young man like Prefcott 
would covet, and he always regretted that 
its influence among the undergraduates had 
not been fuftained. 



Graduation, 



and which, in their day, rendered Commencement a more bril- 
liant feftival than it is now. I was there to hear my friend. 
I could fee, by his tremulous motions, that he was a good deal 
frightened when fpeaking before fo large an affembly ; but ftill 
his appearance was manly, and his verfes were thought well of 
by thofe who had a right to judge of their merit. I have no 
doubt they would do credit to his Latinity if they could now 
be found, for at fchool he wrote fuch verfes better than any 
boy there. 

After the literary exercifes of the day came, of courfe, the 
entertainment to the friends of the family. This was given as 
a reward to the cherifhed fon, which he valued not a little, and 
the promife of which had much ftimulated his efforts in the 
latter part of his college life. It was, in fact, a fomewhat 
fumptuous dinner, under a marquee, at which above five hun- 
dred perfons of both fexes fat down, and which was thoroughly 
enjoyed by all who took an intereft in the occafion. His 
mother did not hefitate to exprefs the pleafure her fon's fuccefs 
had given her, and if his father, from the inftincls of his 
nature, was more referved, he was undoubtedly no lefs fatisfied. 
William was very gay, as he always was in fociety, and perfectly 
natural ; dancing and frolicking on the green with great fpirit 
after the more formal part of the feftivities was over. He was 
not forry that his college life was ended, and faid {o ; but he 
parted from a few of his friends with fincere pain, as they left 
Cambridge to go their feveral ways in the world, never to 
meet again as free and carelefs as they then were. Indeed, on 
fuch occafions, notwithftanding the vivacity of his nature, he 
was forced to yield a little to his feelings, as I have myfelf 
fometimes witneffed. 4 



27 



Chap. II. 



1814. 
JEt. ii 



Entertainment 
when gradu- 
ated. 



4 There are fome remarks of Mr. Pref- 
cott on college life in his Memoir of Mr. 
Pickering, written in 1848, not without a 
recollection of his own early experiences, 
which may well be added here. " The 
four years of college life form, perhaps, 
the moil critical epoch in the exillence of 



the individual. This is efpecially the cafe 
in our country, where they occur at the 
tranfition period, — when the boy ripens 
into the man. The Univerfity, that lit- 
tle world of itfelf, fhut out by a great 
barrier, as it were, from the pall equally 
with the future, bounding the vifible hori- 



28 



Chap. II. 

1815. 
JEt. 19. 

Study of the law 
propofed. 



Claflical ftudies 
continued. 



AW ftudies in- 
terrupted by 
trouble in his 
eye. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Immediately after leaving college, he entered as a ftudent in 
his father's office ; for the law was, in fome fort, his natural 
inheritance, and — with his own talents already fufficiently 
developed to be recognized, and with the countenance and aid 
of a lawyer as eminent as his father was — the path to fuccefs 
at the bar feemed both tempting and fure. But his taftes were 
ftill for the purfuits which he had always moft loved. He 
entertained, indeed, no doubt what would be his ultimate 
career in life ; but ftill he lingered fondly over his Greek and 
Latin books, and was encouraged in an indulgence of his 
preference by his family and friends, who rightly regarded 
fuch ftudies as the fafeft means and foundations for forenfic 
eminence. He talked with me about them occasionally, and 
I rejoiced to hear his accounts of himfelf ; for, although I had 
then been myfelf admitted to the bar, my taftes were the fame, 
and it was pleafant for me to have his fympathy, as he always 
had mine. 

Four or five months were pafTed in this way, and then 
another dark and threatening cloud came over his happy life. 
In January, 1815, he called one day on his medical advifer, 
Dr. Jackfon, and confulted him for an inconfiderable inflam- 
mation of his right eye. It was his fole dependence for fight, 
and therefore, although it had ferved him tolerably well for 



zon of the ftudent like the walls of a 
monaftery, ftill leaves within them fcope 
enough for all the fympathies and the 
paftions of manhood. Taken from the 
fearching eye of parental fupervifion, the 
youthful fcholar .finds the fhackles of early 
difcipline fall from him, as he is left to 
the difpofal, in a great degree, of his own 
hours and the choice of his own aftbciates. 
His powers are quickened by collifion 
with various minds, and by the bolder 
range of ftudies now open to him. He 
finds the fame incentives to ambition as 
in the wider world, and contends with 
the fame zeal for honors which, to his 
eye, feem quite as real — and are they 
not fo? — as thofe in later life. He meets, 



too, with the fame obftacles to fuccefs as 
in the world, the fame temptations to idle- 
nefs, the fame gilded feductions, but with- 
out the fame power of refiftance. For 
in this morning of life his paftions are 
ftrongeft ; his animal nature is more fen- 
fible to enjoyment ; his reafoning faculties 
lefs vigorous and mature. Happy the 
youth who, in this ftage of his exiftence, 
is fo ftrong in his principles that he can 
pafs through the ordeal without faltering 
or failing ; — on whom the contact of bad 
companionfhip has left no ftain for future 
tears to walh away." Collections of the 
Maflachufetts Hiftorical Society, Third 
Series, Vol. X., (1849,) pp. 206, 207. 



Inflammation in his Eye. 



2 9 



1815. 

JEt. 19. 



above a year and a half fince the accident to the other, the Chap - Ir - 
flighteft affection of its powers inevitably excited anxiety. The 
inflammation was then wholly on the furface of the organ, but 
yet he complained of a degree of difficulty and pain in moving 
it, greater than is commonly noticed in a cafe of fo little gravity 
as this otherwife feemed to be. Leeches, therefore, were or- 
dered for the temple, and a faturnine lotion, — fimple remedies, 
no doubt, but fucn as were fufficient for the apparent affecliion, 
and quite as active in their nature as was deemed judicious. 

But in the courfe of the night the pain was greatly increafed, Its r ^ r ^ d p a r ble 
and on the following morning the inflammation, which at firft ! 
had been trifling, was found to be exceffive, — greater, indeed, 
than his phyfician, down to the prefent day, after a very wide 
I practice of above fixty years, has, as he informs me, ever again 
i witneffed. The eye itfelf was much fwollen, the cornea had 
I become opaque, and the power of virion was completely loft. 
I At the fame time the patient's fkin was found to be very hot, 
I and his pulfe hard and accelerated. The whole fyftem, in 
fhort, was much difturbed, and the cafe had evidently become 
one of unufual feverity. 

To his calm and wife father, therefore, — to his phyfician, 
who was not lefs his friend than his profeffional advifer, — and 
to himfelf, for he too was confulted, — it feemed that every 
rifk, except that of life, mould be run, to fave him from the 
permanent and total blindnefs with which he was obvioufly 
threatened. Copious bleedings and other depletions were 
confequently at once reforted to, and feemed, for a few hours, 
to have made an impreffion on the difeafe ; but the fuffering 
returned again with great feverity during the fubfequent night, 
and the inflammation raged with fuch abfolute fury for five 
days, as to refift every form of active treatment that could be 
devifed by his anxious phyfician, and by Dr. J. C. Warren, who 
had been fummoned in confultation. The gloomieft appre- 
henfions, therefore, were neceffarily entertained ; and even 
when, on the fixth day, the inflammation began to yield, and, 
on the morning of the feventh, had almoft wholly fubfided, 



30 



Chap. II. 

1815. 
JEt. 19. 

Difcovered to be 
rheumatifm. 



Always fuffered 
from rheuma- 
tifm after- 
wards. 



William Mick ling Prescott. 



little encouragement for a happy refult could be felt ; for the 
retina was found to be affected, and the powers of vifion were 
obvioufly and ferioufly impaired. 

But in the afternoon of the feventh day the cafe affumed a 
new phasis, and the father, much alarmed, haftened in perfon 
to Dr. Jackfon, telling him that one of the patient's knees had 
become painful, and that the pain, accompanied with rednefs 
and fwelling, was increafing faft. To his furprife, Dr. Jackfon 
anfwered very emphatically that he was moft happy to hear it. 
The myftery which had hung over the difeafe, from the firft 
intimation of a peculiar difficulty in moving the organ, was 
now difpelled. It was a cafe of acute rheumatifm. This had 
not been forefeen. In fact, an inftance in which the acute 
form of that difeafe — not the chronic — had feized on the 
eye was unknown to the books of the profeffion. Both of 
his medical attendants, it is true, thought they had, in their 
previous practice, noticed fome evidence of fuch an affection ; 
and therefore, when the affault was made on the knee in the 
prefent cafe, they had no longer any doubt concerning the 
matter. As the event proved, they had no fufficient reafon 
for any. In truth, the rheumatifm, which had attacked their 
patient in this myfterious but fierce manner, was the difeafe 
which, in its direct and indirect forms, perfecuted him during 
the whole of his life afterwards, and caufed him moft of the 
fufferings and privations that he underwent in fo many different 
ways, but, above all, in the impaired vifion of his remaining 
eye. Bad, however, as was this condition of things, it was 
yet a relief to his anxious advifers to be affured of its real 
character ; — not, indeed, becaufe they regarded acute rheuma- 
tifm in the eye as a flight difeafe, but becaufe they thought it 
lefs formidable in its nature, and lefs likely at laft to deftroy 
the ftructure of the organ, than a common inflammation fo 
fevere and fo unmanageable as this muft, in the fuppofed cafe, 
have been. 

The difeafe now exhibited the ufual appearances of acute 
rheumatifm ; affecting chiefly the large joints of the lower 



Rkewnatifm in his Eye. 



extremities, but occafionally mowing itfelf in the neck, and 
in other parts of the perfon. Twice, in the courfe of the 
next three months after the firft attack, it recurred in the 
eye, accompanied each time with total blindnefs ; but, when- 
ever it left the eye, it reforted again to the limbs, and fo fevere 
was it, even when leaft violent, that, until the beginning of 
May, a period of fixteen weeks, the patient was unable to 
walk a ftep. 

But nothing was able permanently to affect the natural flow 
of his fpirits, — neither pain, nor the fharp furgical remedies 
to which he was repeatedly fubjected, nor the disheartening 
darknefs in which he was kept, nor the gloomy vifta that 
the future feemed to open before him. His equanimity and 
cheerfulnefs were invincible. 

During nearly the whole of this trying period I did not 
fee him ; for I was abfent on a journey to Virginia from the 
beginning of December to the end of March. But when I 
did fee him, — if feeing it could be called, in a room from 
which the light was almoft entirely excluded, — I found him 
quite unchanged, either in the tones of his voice or the anima- 
tion of his manner. He was perfectly natural and very gay ; 
talking unwillingly of his own troubles, but curious and inter- 
efted concerning an abfence of feveral years in Europe which 
] at that time I was about to commence. I found him, in fact, j 
juft as his mother afterwards defcribed him to Dr. Frothing- 
ham, when (he faid : " I never, in a fingle inftance, groped my 
way acrofs the apartment, to take my place at his fide, that he 
did not falute me with fome expreflion of good cheer, — not 
a fingle inftance, — as if we were the patients, and his place 
were to comfort us." 5 

The following fummer wore flowly away ; not without 
much anxiety on the part of his family, as to what might be 
the end of fo much fuffering, and whether the patient's infirm- 
ities would not be materially aggravated by one of our rigorous 
winters. Different plans were agitated. At laft, in the early 

5 Proceedings of the MafTachufetts Hiflorical Society, (Bofton, 1859,) p. 183. 



31 



II. 



1815. 
JEt. 19. 



His good fpirits. 



Anxiety about 
his general 
health. 



32 

Chap. II. 

1 8 1 5. 

JEt. 19. 

Travelling pro- 
pofed. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



autumn, it was determined that he mould pafs the next fix 
months with his grandfather Hickling, Conful of the United 
States at St. Michael's, and then that he fhould vifit London 
and Paris for the benefit of fuch medical advice as he might 
find in either metropolis ; travelling, perhaps, afterwards on 
the Continent, to recruit the refources of his conftitution, 
which by fuch long-continued illnefs had been fomewhat im- 
paired. It was a remedy which was not adopted without pain 
and mifgiving on both fides ; but it was evidently the beft 
thing to be done, and all fubmitted to it with patience and 
hope. 





CHAPTER III. 

1815-1816. 

Vifit to St. Michael's. — His Life there.- — Suffering in his Eye. — His Let- 
ters to his Father and Mother ; to his Sifter ; and to W. H. Gardiner. 

S^^^Q'N fulfilment of the plan for travel mentioned in 



33 



Chap. III. 



Jm^t the laft chapter, he embarked at Bofton, on the 
Jq> 26th of September, 1815, for the Azores. Be- 
fides the ufual annoyances of a fea voyage in one „ 

_ . J ^ Jo Voyage to St 



1815. 

JEt. 19. 



of the fmall veiTels that then carried on our com 
%k& merce with the Weftern Iilands, he fuffered from 
the efpecial troubles of his own cafe ; — (harp attacks of 
rheumatifm and an inflammation of the eye, for which he 
had no remedies but the twilight of his miferable cabin, and 
a diet of rye pudding, with no fauce but coarfe fait. The 
paffage, too, was tedioufly long. He did not arrive until the 
twenty-fecond day. Before he landed, he wrote to his father 
and mother, with the freedom and affection which always 
marked his intercourfe with them : — 

" I have been treated," he faid, u with every attention by the captain and 
crew, and my fituation rendered as comfortable as poffible. But this cabin was 
never defigned for rheumatics. The companion-way opens immediately upon 
deck, and the patent binnacle illuminators, vice windows, are fo ingenioufly and 
impartially conftru£ted, that for every ray of light we have half a dozen drops 
of water. The confequence is, that the orbit of my operations for days together 
has been very much reftricted. I have banifhed ennui, however, by battling 
with Democrats and bed-bugs, both of which thrive on board this veffel, and in 
both of which contefts I have been ably feconded by the cook, who has officiated 
as my valet de chambre, and in whom I find a great congeniality of fentiment." 

4 



Michael' 



34 



Chap. III. 

1815. 
JEt. 19. 

His grandfather 
and family. 



Beautiful coun- 
try. 



Inflammation of 
his eye. 



His gay fpirits. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



An hour after writing this letter, October 18th, he landed. 
He was moft kindly received by his grandfather, — a generous, 
open-handed, open-hearted gentleman, feventy-two years old, 
who had long before married a lady of the ifland as his fecond 
wife, and was furrounded by a family of interesting children, 
fome of whom were fo near the age of their young nephew of 
the half-blood, that they made him moft agreeable companions 
and friends. They were all then refiding a few miles from 
Ponta Delgada, the capital of the ifland of St. Michael's, at a 
place called Rofto de Cao, from the fuppofed refemblance of 
its rocks to the head of a dog. It was a country-houfe, in the 
midft of charming gardens and the gayeft cultivation. The 
young American, who had been little from home, and never 
beyond the influences of the rude climate in which he was 
born, enjoyed exceflively the all but tropical vegetation with 
which he found himfelf thus fuddenly furrounded ; the laurels 
and myrtles that everywhere fprang wild ; and the multitudi- 
nous orange-groves which had been cultivated and extended 
chiefly through his grandfather's fpirit and energy, until their 
fruit had become the ftaple of the ifland, while, more than 
half the year, their flowers filled large portions of it with a 
delicious fragrance ; " Hefperian fables true, if true, here 
only." 

But his pleafures of this fort were fhort-lived. He had 
landed with a flight trouble in his eye, and a fortnight was 
hardly over before he was obliged to fhut himfelf up with it. 
From November ift to February ift he was in a dark room; — 
fix weeks of the time in fuch total darknefs, that the furniture 
could not be diftinguifhed ; and all the time living on a fpare 
vegetable diet, and applying blifters to keep down adlive in- 
flammation. But his fpirits were proof alike againft pain and 
abftinence. He has often defcribed to me the exercife he took 
in his large room, — hundreds of miles in all, — walking from 
corner to corner, and thrufting out his elbows fo as to get 
warning through them of his approach to the angles of the 
wall, whofe plaftering he abfolutely wore away by the conftant 



At Saint Michael's. 



thus inflicted on it. And all this time, he added, 
exception of a few days of acute fuffering, he fang 



blows he 

with the 

aloud, in his darknefs and folitude, with unabated cheer. Later, 

when a little light could be admitted, he carefully covered his 

eyes, and liftened to reading ; and, at the worft, he enjoyed 

much of the fociety of his affectionate aunts and coufins. 

But he (hall fpeak for himfelf, in two or three of the few 
letters which are preferved from the period of his refidence in 
the Azores and his fubfequent travels in Europe. 

TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. 

Rofto de Cao, 13 Nov., 18 15. 

It is with heart-felt joy, my beloved parents, that I can addrefs you from 
this blefled little ifle. I landed on Wednefday, October 18th, at 10 A. M., 
after a moft tedious pafTage of twenty-two days, although I had made a fixed 
determination to arrive in ten. I cannot be thankful enough to Heaven that it 
had not cafed in thefe rheumatic fhackles the navigating foul of a Cook or a 
Columbus, for I am very fure, if a fifth quarter of the globe depended upon me 

for its expofure, it would remain terra incognita forever I was received 

on the quay by my Uncles Thomas and Ivers, and proceeded immediately to 
the houfe of the latter, where I difpofed of a nefcio quantum of bread and 
milk, to the no fmall aftonifhment of two or three young coufins, who thought 
it the ufual American appetite. 

The city of Ponta Delgada, as feen from the roads, prefents an appearance 
extremely unique, and, to one who has never been beyond the fmoke of his own 
hamlet, feems rather enchantment than reality. The brilliant whitenefs of the 
buildings, fituated at the bafe of lofty hills, whofe fides are clothed with fields 
of yellow corn, and the pi£turefque, admirably heightened by the turrets which 
rife from the numerous convents that difgrace and beautify the city, prefent 
a coup tfceil on which the genius of a Radcliffe, or indeed any one, much lefs 
an admirer of the beauties of nature than myfelf, might expend a folio of 
fentimentality and nonfenfe. After breakfaft I proceeded to Rofto de Cao, 
where I have now the good fortune to be domefticated. My dear grandfather 
is precifely the man I had imagined and wiihed him to be. Frank and gentle- 
manly in his deportment, affectionate to his family, and liberal to excefs in all 
his feelings, his hand ferves as the conductor of his heart, and when he (hakes 
yours, he communicates all the overflowings of his own benevolent difpofition. 
His bodily virtues are no lefs infpiring than his mental. He rifes every morning 
at five, takes a remarkable intereft in everything that is going forward, and is fo 
alert in his motions, that, at a fair ftart, I would lay any odds he would diftance 
the whole of his pofterity. He plumes himfelf not a little upon his constitution, 



35 



Chap. III. 

1815. 
Mt. 19. 



Letter to his 
father and 
mother. 



Ponta Delgada. 



Rofto de Cao. 
Mr. Hickling. 



36 



Chap. III. 

1815. 
JEr.ig. 



The family. 



The ifland. 



'Excurfions. 



William Mick ling Prescott. 



and tells me that I am much more deferving of the title of ' old boy ' than 
himfelf. 

I mould give you a fort of biography of the whole family, but my aunt, 
who officiates as fecretary, abfolutely refufes to write any more encomiums on 
them, and, as I have nothing very ill to fay of them at prefent, I mail poftpone 
this until you can receive fome official documents fub mea manu. The truth 
is, I am fo lately recovered from a flight inflammation, which the rain water, 
fait water, and other marine comforts are fo well calculated to produce, that I 
do not care to exert my eyes at prefent, for which reafon my ideas are commu- 
nicated to you by the hand of my aunt. 

We move into town this week, where I have been but feldom fince my 
arrival, and have confined my curiofity to fome equeftrian excurfions round the 
country. Novelty of fcenery is alone fufficient to intereft one who has been 
accuftomed to the productions of Northern climates. It is very curious, my 
dear parents, to fee thofe plants which one has been accuftomed to fee reared in 
a hot-houfe, flourifhing beneath the open fky, and attaining a height and perfec- 
tion which no artificial heat can command. When I wander amid the groves 
of boxwood, cyprefs, and myrtle, I feel myfelf tranfported back to the ages of 
Horace and Anacreon, who confecrated their (hades to immortality. 

The climate, though very temperate for winter, is much too frigid for 
fummer, and before I could venture a flight of poefy, I mould be obliged to 
thaw out my imagination over a good December fire. The weather is fo capri- 
cious, that the inhabitants are abfolutely amphibious ; — if they are in funfhine 
one half of the day, they are fure to be in water the other half. 

Give my beft affection to Aunt A 's charming family, and be particular 

refpe&ing Mrs. H 's health. Tell my friends, that, when my eyes are in 

trim, I mail not fail to fatigue their patience. 

Remember me to our good people, and think often, my beloved parents, of 
your truly affectionate fon, 

William. 

TO HIS SISTER. 

St. Michael's, Ponta Delgada, March 12, 18 16. 

I am happy, my darling fifter, in an opportunitv of declaring how much I 
love, and how often I think of you 

Since my recovery — to avail myfelf of a fimile not exactly Homeric — I 
may be compared to bottled beer, which, when it has been imprifoned a long 
time, burfts forth with tremendous explofion, and evaporates in froth and fmoke. 
Since my emancipation I have made more noife and rattled more nonfenfe than 
the ball-rooms of Bofton ever witnefled. Two or three times a week we make 
excurfions into the country on jacks, a very agreeable mode of riding, and vifit 
the orangeries, which are now in their prime. What a profpect prefents itfelf 
for the dead of winter ! The country is everywhere in the bloom of vegeta- 
tion \ — the myrtles, the rofes, and laurels are in full bloom, and the dark green 



At Saint Michael's. 



of the orange groves is finely contrafted with " the golden apples " which glitter 
through their foliage. Amidft fuch a fcene I feel like a being of another world, 
new lighted on this diftant home 

The houfes of this country are built of ftone, covered with white lime. 
They are feldom more than two ftories in height, and the lower floors are 
devoted to the cattle. They are moft lavifh of expenfe on their churches, 
which are profufely ornamented with gilding and carving, which, though poorly 
executed, produces a wonderful effect by candle-light. They are generally 
fortified with eight or ten bells, and when a great character walks off the carpet, 
they keep them in continual jingle, as they have great faith in ringing the foul 
through Purgatory. When a poor man lofes his child, his friends congratulate 
him on fo joyful an occafion \ but if his pig dies, they condole with him. I 
know not but this may be a fair eftimate of their relative worth 

The whole appearance of this country is volcanic. In the environs I 
have feen acres covered with lava, and incapable of culture, and moft of the 
mountains ftill retain the veftiges of craters. Scarcely a year palTes without an 
earthquake. I have been fo fortunate as to witnefs the moft tremendous of 
thefe convulfions within the memory of the prefent inhabitants. This was on 
the i ft of February, at midnight. So fevere was the fhock, that more than 
forty houfes and many of the public edifices were overthrown or injured, and 
our houfe cracked in various places from top to bottom. The whole city was 
thrown into confternation. Our family aflembled en chem'ife in the corridor. I 
was wife enough to keep quiet in bed, as I confidered a cold more dangerous to 
me than an earthquake. But we were all exceiTively alarmed. There is no 
vifitation more awful than this. From moft dangers there is fome refuge, but 
when nature is convulfed, where can we fly ? An earthquake is commonly 
past before one has time to eftimate the horrors of his fituation ; but this 
lafted three minutes and a half, and we had full leifure to fummon up the ghofts 
of Lifbon and Herculaneum, and many other recollections equally foothing, and 
I confefs the idea of terminating my career in this manner was not the moft 
agreeable of my reflections. 

A few weeks fince, my dear fifter, I vifited fome hot fprings in Ribeira 
Grande, at the northern part of the ifland ; but, as I have fince been to " the 
Furnace," where I have feen what is much more wonderful and beautiful in 
nature, I (hall content myfelf with a defcription of the latter excurfion. 

Our road lay through a mountainous country, abounding in wild and pi£tu- 
refque fcenery. Our party confifted of about twenty, and we travelled upon 
jacks, which is the pleafanteft conveyance in the world, both from its fociability, 
and the little fatigue which attends it. As we rode irregularly, our cavalcade 
had a very romantic appearance ; for, while fome of us were in the vale, others 
were on the heights of the mountains, or winding down the declivities, on the 
brink of precipices two hundred feet perpendicular. 

As my imagination was entirely occupied with the volcanic phenomena for 
which the Furnace is fo celebrated, I had formed no ideas of any milder attrac- 
tions. What was my furprife, then, when, defcending the mountains at twilight, 
there burft upon our view a circular valley, ten miles in circumference, bounded 



37 



i 

JEt. 



. III. 

16. 
19. 



Houfes and peo- 
ple. 



Earthquakes. 



Hot fprings. 



Beautiful valley. 



38 



?HAP. Ill, 
I8l6. 

JEt. 19. 



"Yankee Hall. 



Death of young 
friends. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



on all fides by lofty hills, and in the richeft ftate of cultivation. The evening 
bell was tolling, as we defcended into the plain, to inform the inhabitants of 
funfet, — the Angelus, — and this, with the whiftle of the herdfmen, which in 
this country is peculiarly plaintive, and the " fober gray" of evening, all com- 
bined to fill my bofom with fentiments of placid contentment 

I confider it almoft fruitlefs to attempt to defcribe the Caldeiras [the Cal- 
drons], as I can convey no adequate idea of their terrible appearance. There 
are feven principal ones, the largeft about twenty feet in diameter. They are 
generally circular, but differing both in form and dimenfions. They boil with 
fuch fervor as to ejecl: the water to the height of twenty feet, and make a noife 
like diftant thunder 

Grandfather's houfe is fituated in the centre of this beautiful valley. It 
has undergone feveral alterations fince mother was here. The entrance is 
through a long avenue of fhady box-trees, and you afcend to it by a flight of 
fifty ftone fteps. Near the houfe is a grove which was not even in embryo 
when mother was here. In front of it is a pond, with a fmall ifland in the 
middle, connected with the main land by a ftone bridge. In this delightful fpot 
I had fome of the happieft hours which I have fpent fince I quitted my native 
mores. At " Yankee Hall " l every one is fans fouci. The air of the place is 
remarkably propitious both to good fpirits and good appetites. 2 - 

In my walks I met with many villagers who recollected Donna Catherina, 3 
and who teftified their affection for her fon in fuch hearty embrajjades as I am 
not quite Portuguefe enough to relifh 

Adieu, my darling fifter. I know not how I mail be able to fend you this 
letter. I fhall probably take it with me to London, where opportunities will be 
much more frequent, and where your patience will be much oftener tried by 
your fincerely affectionate 

W. 

TO WILLIAM H. GARDINER. 

Ponta Delgada, St. Michael's, March, 1816. 

I am fortunate, my dear Will, in an opportunity of addreffing you from 
the orange bowers of St. Michael's, and of acknowledging the receipt of your 
Gazettes, with their budgets fcandalous and philofophical. I muft pronounce 
you, my friend, the optimus editorum, for, in the language of the commenta- 
tors, you have not left a fingle defederation ungratified. It is impoflible to be 
too minute. To one abfent from home trifles are of importance, and the moft 
petty occurrences are the more acceptable, as they tranfport us into fcenes of 
former happinefs, and engage us in the occupations of thofe in whom we are 
the moft interefted. I was much diftrefled by the death of my two friends. 
R 's I had anticipated, but the circumftances which attended it were pecu- 

2 Elfewhere he calls this vifit, " Elyfi- 
um, four days." 

1 His mother's Chriitian name. 



1 The name of the large houfe his 
grandfather had built at the " Caldeiras," 
remembering his own home. 



At Saint Michael's. 



39 



Chap. III. 

1816. 
JEr. 19. 



liarlv afflicting. P'ew I believe have fpent fo long a life in fo fhort a period. He 
certainly had much benevolence of difpofition ; but there was fomething uncon- 
genial in his temper, which made him unpopular with the mafs of his acquaint- 
ance. If, however, the number of his enemies was great, that of his virtues 
exceeded them. Thofe of us who fhared his friendfhip knew how to appreciate 

his worth. 4 P , with lefs fteadinefs of principle, had many focial qualities 

which endeared him to his friends. The fprightlinefs of his fancv has beguiled 
us of manv an hour, and the vivacity of his wit, as you well know, has often 
fet our table in a roar 

Your letters contain a very alarming lift of marriages and matches. If 
the mania continues much longer, I fhall find at mv return moft of my fair 
companions converted into fober matrons. I believe I had better adopt vour 
advice, and, to execute it with a little more eclat, perfuade fome kind nun to 
fcale the walls of her convent with me. 

Apropos of nunneries : the noveltv of the thing has induced me to vifit Nunneries. 
them frequently, but I find that thev anfwer very feeblv to thofe romantic 
notions of purity and fimplicity which I had attached to them. Almoft every 
nun has a lover ; that is, an innamorato who vifits her every day, and fwears 
as manv oaths of conftancy, and imprints as manv kifTes on the grates as ever 
Pyramus and Thiibe did on the unlucky chink w T hich feparated them. I was 
invited the other day to felecf. one of thefe fair penitents, but, as I have no 
great relifh for fuch a — correfpondence, I declined the politenefs, and content 
mvfelf with a few ogles and fighs en pajfant. 

It is an interefting employment for the inhabitants of a free country, flour- 
ifhing under the influences of a benign religion, to contemplate the degradation 
to which human nature may be reduced when opprefied bv arbitrary power and j 
papal fuperftition. Mv oblervation of the Portuguefe character has half inclined 
me to credit Monboddo's theory, and confider the inhabitants in that ftage of 
the metamorphofis when, having loft the tails of monkeys, they have not yet 
acquired the brains of men. In mechanical improvements, and in the common 
arts and conveniences of life, the Portuguefe are at leaft two centuries behind 
the Englifh, and as to literary acquifitions, if, as fome writers have pretended, 
" ignorance is blifs," they may fafely claim to be the happieft people in the 
world. 

But, if animated nature is fo debafed, the beauties of the inanimate creation Climate. 
cannot be furpaffed. During the whole year we have the unruffled ferenity of 
j June. Such is the temperature of the climate, that, although but a few degrees 
I fouth of Bofton, moft tropical plants will flourim ; and fuch is the extreme 
falubritv, that nothing venomous can exift. Thefe iflands, however, abound 
in volcanic phenomena. I have feen whole fields covered with lava, and moft 
of the mountains ftill retain the veftiges of craters. I have, too, had the 
pleafure of experiencing an earthquake, which fhook down a good number of 
houfes, and I hope I mall not foon be gratified with a fimilar exhibition. 

But the moft wonderful of the natural curiofities are the hot wells, which 

4 A college friend of great promife who died in England in 181 5. 



Portuguefe 
character. 



4 o 



Chap. III. 

1816. 
JEt. 19. 

Fertility of the 
ifland. 



Inflammation of 
his eye. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



are very numerous, and of which it would be impoflible to give you an adequate 
conception. The fertility of the foil is fo great, that they generally obtain two 
crops in a year, and now, while you are looking wofully out of the window 
waiting for the laft ftroke of the bell before you encounter the terrific fnow- 
banks which threaten you, with us the myrtle, the rofe, the pomegranate, the 
lemon and orange groves are in perfection, and the whole country glowing in 
full bloom. Indeed, there is everything which can catch the poet's eye, but 
you know, Sine Venere, friget Apollo, and, until fome Azorian nymph mail 
warm my heart into love, the beauties of nature will hardly warm my imagina- 
tion into poefy. 

I rauft confefs, however, that friendmip induced me to make an effort this 
way. I have been confined to my chamber for fome time by an indifpofition ; 
and while in durefs I commenced a poetical effufion to you, and had actually 
completed a page, when, recovering my liberty, there were fo many ftrange 
objects to attract the attention, and I thought it fo much lefs trouble to manu- 
facture bad profe than bad poetry, that I difmounted from Pegafus, whom, by 
the by, I found a confounded hard trotter. Now, as you are profefledly one 
of the genus irritabile, I think you cannot employ your leifure better than 
in ferving me an Horatian dim fecundum artem. Give my warmeft affection 
to your father, mother, and fitters, and be allured, my dear Will, whether 
rhyme or reafon, your epiftles will ever confer the higheft gratification on your 
friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. 

St. Michael's, March 15, 18 16. 

I cannot regret, my beloved parents, that the opportunities of writing have 
not been more frequent ; for, although it would be cruel to inform you of 
diftreffes, while actually exifting, which it was not in your power to alleviate, 
yet it is fo foothing to the mind to communicate its griefs, that I doubt if I 
could refrain from it. 

The windows in Rofto de Cao are conftructed on much the fame principle 
as our barn-doors. Their uncharitable quantity of light and a flight cold in- 
creafed the inflammation with which I landed to fuch a degree, that, as I could 
not foften the light by means of blinds, which are unknown here, I was obliged 
to exclude it altogether by clofing the mutters. The fame caufe retarded my 
recovery ; for, as the fun introduced himfelf fans cere'monie whenever I attempted 
to admit the light, I was obliged to remain in darknefs until we removed to the 
city, where I was accommodated with a room which had a northern afpect, and, 
by means of different thickneffes of baize nailed to the windows, I was again 
reftored to the cheering beams of heaven. This confinement lafted from the 
iff of November to the iff of February, and during fix weeks of it I was in 
fuch total darknefs it was impoflible to diftinguifh objects in the room. Much 



Letter to his Father and Mother. 



4i 



Chap. III. 


1816. 


JEt. 19. 


Remedies. 



of this time has been beguiled of its tedioufnefs by the attentions of A and 

H , particularly the latter, who is a charming creature, and whom I regard 

as a fecond filter. 

I have had an abundance of good prefcriptions. Grandfather has ftrongly 
urged old Madeira as a univerfal noftrum, and my good uncle the doctor no 
lefs ftrenuoufly recommended beef-fteak. I took their advice, for it coil me 
nothing ; but, as following it coft me rather too dear, I adhered with Chinefe 
obftinacy to bread and milk, hafty pudding, and gruel. This diet and the 
application of blifters was the only method I adopted to preferve my eye from 
inflammation. 

I have not often, my dear parents, experienced depreffion of fpirits, and Good fpirits. 
' there have been but few days in which I could not folace my forrows with a 
, fong. I preferved my health by walking on the piazza with a handkerchief tied 
over a pair of goggles, which were prefented to me by a gentleman here, and 
by walking fome hundreds of miles in my room, fo that I emerged from my 
dungeon, not with the emaciated figure of a prifoner, but in the florid bloom of 
a bon vivant. Indeed, everything has been done which could promote my 
health and happinefs ; but darknefs has few charms for thofe in health, and a 
long confinement muft exhauft the patience of all but thofe who are imme- 
diately interefted in us. A perfon fituated as I have been can be really happy 
nowhere but at home, for where but at home can he experience the affectionate 
folicitude of parents. But the gloom is now diffipated, and my eyes have nearly 
recovered their former vigor. I am under no apprehenfion of a relapfe, as I 
fhall foon be wafted to a land where the windows are of Chriftian dimenfions, 
and t]ie medical advice fuch as may be relied upon. 

The moil unpleafant of my reflections fuggefted by this late inflammation 
are thofe arifing from the probable neceflity of abandoning a profeflion congenial 
with my tafte, and recommended by fuch favorable opportunities, and adopting 
one for which I am ill qualified, and have but little inclination. It is fome 
confolation, however, that this latter alternative, mould my eyes permit, will 
afford me more leifure for the purfuit of my favorite ftudies. But on this fubjecl: 
I fhall confult my phyfician, and will write you his opinion. My mind has not 
been whollv ftagnant during my refidence here. By means of the bright eyes 

of H I have read part of Scott, Shakefpeare, Travels through England 

and Scotland, the Iliad, and the OdyfTey. A has read fome of the Grecian 

and Roman hiftories, and I have cheated many a moment of its tedium by com- 
pofition, which was foon banifhed from my mind for want of an amanuenfis. 



4 2 



Chap. IV. 

1816. 
JEt. 20. 

Relations to his 
grandfather's 
family. 



Voyage to Eng- 
land. 




CHAPTER IV. 

1816. 

Leaves St. Michael's. — Arrives in London. — Privations there. — Pleas- 
ures. — Goes to Paris. — Goes to Italy. — Returns to Paris. - — Illnefs 
there. — Goes again to London. — Travels little in England. — Deter- 
mines to return Home. — Letter to W. H. Gardiner. 

IS relations to the family of his venerable grand- 
father at St. Michael's, as the preceding letters 
fhow, were of the moft agreeable kind, and 
the erfecl: produced by his character on all its 
members, old and young, was the fame that it 
produced on everybody. They all loved him. 
His grandmother, with whom, from the difference of their 
languages, he could have had a lefs free intercourfe than with 
the reft, wept bitterly when he left them ; and his patriarchal 
grandfather, who had, during his long life, been called to give 
up feveral of his houfe to the claims of the world, preifed him 
often in his arms on the beach, and, as the tears rolled down 
his aged cheeks, cried out, in the bitternefs of his heart, " God 
knows, it never coft me more to part from any of my own 
children." 

On the 8th of April, 18 16, he embarked for London. His 
| acute rheumatifm and the confequent inflammation in his eye 
j recurred almoft of courfe, from the expofures incident to a fea 
! life with few even of the ufual allowances of fea comforts. 




Visits England. 



He was, therefore, heartily glad when, after a paffage pro- 
longed to four and twenty days, two and twenty of which he 
had been confined to his ftate-room, and kept on the moft 
meagre fare, his fufFering eye refted on the green fields of Old 
England. 

In London he placed himfelf in the hands of Dr. Farre ; of 
Mr. Cooper, afterwards Sir Aftley Cooper ; and of Sir William 
Adams, the oculift. He could not, perhaps, have done better. 
But his cafe admitted of no remedy and few alleviations ; for 
it was afcertained, at once, that the eye originally injured was 
completely paralyzed, and that for the other little could be 
done except to add to its ftrength by ftrengthening the whole 
phyfical fyftem. He followed, however, as he almoft always 
did, even when his hopes were the fainteft, all the prescrip- 
tions that were given him, and fubmitted confcientioufly to 
the privations that were impofed. He faw few perfons that 
could much intereft him, becaufe evening fociety was forbid- 
den, and he went to public places and exhibitions rarely, and 
to the theatre never, although he was forely tempted by the 
farewell London performances of Mrs. Siddons and Mr. John 
Kemble. A friend begged him to ufe an excellent library as 
if it were his own ; " but," he wrote to his father and mother, 
"when I look into a Greek or Latin book, I experience much 
the fame fenfation one does who looks on the face of a dead 
friend, and the tears not infrequently fteal into my eyes." He 
made a fingle excurfion from London. It was to Richmond ; 
vifiting at the fame time Slough, where he faw Herfchel's 
telefcopes, Eton, Windfor, and Hampton Court, — all with 
Mr. John Quincy Adams, then our Minifter at the Court 
of St. James. It was an excurfion which he mentions with 
great pleafure in one of his letters. He could, indeed, hardly 
have made it more agreeably or more profitably. But this 
was his only pleafure of the fort. 

A frefh and eager fpirit, however, like his, could not ftand 
amidft the refources of a metropolis fo magnificent as London 
without recognizing their power. Enjoyments, therefore, he 



43 



Chap. IV. 

1816. 
JEt. 20. 



London. 



44 



Chap. IV. 

1816. 
tEt. 20. 

Elgin Marbles 
and Cartoons 
of Raphael. 



Paris. 



Vifits La Fay- 
ette. 



William Mick ling Prescott. 



certainly had, and, if they were rare, they were high. Noth- 
ing in the way of art ftruck him io much as the Elgin Mar- 
bles and the Cartoons of Raphael. Of the firft, which he 
vifited as often as he dared to, he fays, " There are few liv- 
ing beings in whofe fociety I have experienced fo much real 
pleafure," and of the laft, that " they pleafed him a great deal 
more than the Stafford collection. " It may, as it feems to me, 
be fairly accounted remarkable, that one whofe tafte in fculp- 
ture and painting could not have been cultivated at home 
mould at once have felt the fupremacy of thofe great works 
of ancient and modern art, then much lefs acknowledged 
than it is now, and even yet, perhaps, not fo fully confeffed 
as it will be. 

He went frequently to the public libraries and to the princi- 
pal bookfellers' fhops, full of precious editions of the claffics 
which he had found it fo difficult to obtain in his own country, 
and which he fo much coveted now. But of everything con- 
nected with books his enjoyment was neceffarily imperfect. 
At this period he rarely opened them. He purchafed a few, 
however, trufting to the future, as he always did. 

Early in Auguft he went over to Paris, and remained there, 
or in its neighborhood, until October. But Paris could hardly 
be enjoyed by him fo much as London, where his mother 
tongue made everything feem familiar in a way that nothing 
elfe can. He faw, indeed, a good deal of what is external ; 
although, even in this, he was checked by care for his eye, and 
by at leaft one decided accefs of inflammation. Anything, 
however, beyond the moft imperfect view of what he vifited 
was out of the queftion. 

The following winter, which he parTed in Italy, was proba- 
bly beneficial to his health, fo far as his implacable enemy, the 
rheumatifm, was concerned, and certainly it was full of enjoy- 
ment. He travelled with his old fchoolfellow and friend, Mr. 
John Chipman Gray, who did much to make the journey pleaf- 
ant to him. After leaving Paris, they firft flopped a day at La 
Grange to pay their refpects to General La Fayette, and then 



Travels in Italy, 



went by Lyons, the Mont Cenis, Turin, Genoa, Milan, Venice, 
Bologna, and Florence to Rome. In Rome they remained 
about fix weeks ; after which, giving a month to Naples, they 
returned through Rome to Florence, and, embarking at Leg- 
horn for Marfeilles, made a fhort vifit to Nifmes, not forget- 
ting Avignon and Vauclufe, and then haftened by Fontaine- 
bleau to Paris, where they arrived on the 30th of March. It 
was the cuftomary route, and the young travellers faw what all 
travellers fee, neither more nor lefs, and enjoyed it as all do 
who have cultivation like theirs and good tafte. In a letter 
written to me the next year, when I was myfelf in Italy, he 
fpeaks with great intereft of his vifit there, and feems to regret 
Naples more than any other portion of that charming country. 
But twenty and alfo forty years later, when I was again in Italy, 
his letters to me were full, not of Naples, but of Rome. 
" Rome is the place," he faid, " that lingers longeft, I fuppofe, 
in everybody's recollection ; at leaft, it is the brighteft of all I 
faw in Europe." This was natural. It was the refult of the 
different viftas through which, at widely different periods of 
his life, he looked back upon what he had fo much enjoyed. 

One thing, however, in relation to his Italian journeyings, 
though not remarkable at the time, appears lingular now, 
when it is feen in the light of his fubfequent career. He 
paffed over the battle-fields of Gonfalvo de Cordova, and all 
that made the Spanifh arms in Italy fo illuftrious in the time 
of Ferdinand and Ifabella, without a remark, and, I fuppofe, 
without a thought. But, as he often faid afterwards, and, 
indeed, more than once wrote to me, he was then frefh from 
the clafiical ftudies he fo much loved ; Horace and Livy, I 
know, were fufpended in the net of his travelling-carriage ; 
and he thought more, I doubt not, of Caefar and Cicero, Taci- 
tus and Virgil, than of all the moderns put together. 

Indeed, the moderns were, in one fenfe, beyond his reach. 
He was unable to give any of his time to the language or the 
literature of Italy, fo wholly were his eyes unfitted for ufe. 
But he was content with what his condition permitted; — to 



45 



Chap. IV. 

1817. 
JEt. 21. 

Travels in Italy 



No thought of 
Spanifh con- 
quefts there. 



4 6 



Chap. IV. 

1 817. 
JEt. 21. 

Lives with the 
ancients. 



Paris. 



Severe illnef 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



walk about among the ruins of earlier ages, and occasionally 
look up a paffage in an ancient claffic to explain or illuftrate 
them. The genius loci was at his fide wherever he went, and 
mowed him things invifible to mortal fight. As he faid in 
one of his letters to me, it was to him "all a facred land," 
and the mighty men of old flood before him in the place of 
the living. 

A few days after he reached Paris, April 7, I arrived there 
from Germany, where I had been pafling nearly two years ; 
and, as we both had accidentally the fame banker, our lodgings 
had been engaged for us at the fame hotel. In this way he 
was one of the very firft perfons I faw when I alighted. His 
parlor, I found, was darkened, and his eye was ftill too fenfitive 
for any healthy ufe of it ; but his fpirits were light, and his 
enthufiafm about his Italian journey was quite contagious. We 
walked a little round the city together, and dined that day 
with our hofpitable banker very gayly. But this was the laft 
of his pleafures in Paris. When we reached our hotel, he 
complained of feeling unwell, and I was fo much alarmed by 
the ftate of his pulfe that I went perfonally for his phyfician, 
and brought him back with me, fearing, as it was already late 
at night, that there might otherwife be fome untoward delay. 
The refult lhowed that I had not been unreafonably anxious. 
The moft active treatment was inftantly adopted, and abfolute 
quiet prefcribed. I watched with him that night ; and, as I 
had yet made no acquaintances in Paris, and felt no intereft 
there, fo ftrong as my intereft in him, I fhut myfelf up with 
him, and thought little of what was outfide the walls of our 
hotel till he was better. 

I was, in fa6l, much alarmed. Nor was he infenfible to his 
pofition, which the feverity of the remedies adminiftered left 
no doubt was a critical one. But he maintained his compofure 
throughout, begging me, however, not to tell him that his 
illnefs was dangerous unlefs I mould think it indifpenfable to 
do fo. In three or four days my apprehenfions were relieved. 
In eight or ten more, during which I was much with him, he 



/; 



n 



England. 



47 



Chap. IV. 



1817. 
JEt. 21 



was able to go out, and in another week he was reftored. But 
it was in that dark room that I firft learned to know him as I 
have never known any other perfon beyond the limits of my 
immediate family, and it was there that was firft formed a 
mutual regard over which, to the day of his death, — a period 
of above forty years, — no cloud ever parTed. 

In the middle of May, after making a pleafant vifit of a 
week to Mr. Daniel Parker 1 at Draveil, he left Paris, and went, 
by the way of Brighton, to London, where he remained about Goes to London. 
fix weeks, vifiting anew, fo far as his infirmities would permit, 
what was mod interefting to him, and liftening more than 
he had done before to debates in the Houfe of Lords and the 
Houfe of Commons. But the country gave him more pleafure 
than the city. His eyes fuffered lefs there, and, befides, he was 
always fenfible to what is beautiful in nature. Two excurfions 
that he made gratified him very much. One was to Oxford, 
Blenheim, and the Wye ; in which the Gothic architecture of 
New-College Chapel and the graceful ruins of Tintern Abbey, 
with the valley in which they ftand, moft attracted his admira- 
tion, the laft " furpaffing/ , as he faid, " anything of the fort he 
had ever feen." He came back by Salifbury, and then almoft 
immediately went to Cambridge, where he was more interefted 
by the manufcripts of Milton and Newton than by anything 
elfe, unlefs, perhaps, it were King's College Chapel. But, after 
all, this vifit to England was very unfatisfactory. He fpoke to 
me in one of his letters of being " invigorated by the rational 
atmofphere of London/' in comparifon with his life on the 
Continent. But ftill the ftate of his eyes, and even of his 
general health, deprived him of many enjoyments which his 
vifit would otherwife have afforded him. He was, therefore, 
well pleafed to turn his face towards the comforts of home. 



1 Mr. Parker was an American gentle- 
man, who lived very pleafantly on a fine 
eftate at Draveil, near Paris. Mr. Pref- 
cott was more than once at his hofpitable 
chateau, and enjoyed his vifits there much. 
It was there he firft became acquainted 



with Mr. Charles King, fubfequently dis- 
tinguished in political life and as the Prefi- 
dent of Columbia College, who, after the 
death of the hiftorian, pronounced a juft 
and beautiful eulogium on him before the 
New- York Hiftorical Society, Feb. 1, 1859. 



Travels in Eng- 
land. 



4 8 



Chap 


IV. 


181 


7- 


JEt. 


21. 


,etter to 


W. H 


Gardir 


ler. 



Journeys to Italy 
and France. 



Travelling bad 
for his eye. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Of all this, pleafant intimations may be found in the follow- 
ing letter to his friend Gardiner : — 

London, 29th May, 18 17. 

I never felt in my life more inclined to fcold any one, my dear Gardiner, 
than I do to fcold you at prefent, and I mould not let you off fo eafily but 
that my return will prevent the benefits of a reformation. You have ere this 
received a folio of hieroglyphics which I tranfmitted to you from Rome. 2 To 
read them, I am aware, is impoffible ; for, as I was folding them up, I had 
occafion to refer to fomething, and found myfelf utterly unable to decipher my 
own writing. I preferred, however, to fend them, for, although unintelligible, 
they would at leaft be a fubftantial evidence to my friend that I had not for- 
gotten him. As you probably have been made acquainted with my route by 
my family, I fhall not trouble you with the details. 

Notwithftanding the many and various objects which Italy poffeffes, they are 
accompanied with fo many desagremens, — poor inns, worfe roads, and, above 
all, the mean fpirit and difhonefty of its inhabitants, — that we could not regret 
the termination of our tour. I was disappointed in France, that is to fay, the 
country. That part of it which I have feen, excepting Marfeilles, Nifmes, 
Avignon, and Lyons, poffeffes few beauties of nature, and little that is curious 
or worthy of remark. Paris is everything in France. It is certainly unique. 
With a great parade of fcience and literary inftitutions, it unites a conftant 
fucceilion of frivolities and public amufements. I was pleafed as long as the 
novelty lafted, and fatiated in lefs than two months. The molt cheerful mind 
muft become dull amidft unintermitted gayety and diffipation, unlefs it is con- 
structed upon a French anatomy. 

I left in a retired part of the city, diligently occupied with the tran- 

fition of the Roman language into the Italian, and with the ancient French 
Provencal dialect. There are fome men who can unravel problems in the midft 
of a ball-room. In the fall goes down to Italy. 

I have now been a fortnight in London. Its fea-coal atmofphere is extremely 
favorable to my health. I am convinced, however, that travelling is pernicious, 
and, inftead of making the long tour of Scotland, fhall content myfelf with 
excurfions to the principal counties and manufacturing towns in England. In 
a couple of months I hope to embark, and fhall foon have the pleafure of 
recapitulating with you, my friend, my perils and experiences, and treading in 
retrofpection the claflic ground of Italy. I fincerely hope you may one day 
vifit a country which contains fo much that is interesting to any man of liberal 
education 

I anticipate with great pleafure the reftoration to my friends ; to thofe do- 
mestic and focial enjoyments which are little known in the great capitals of 
Europe. Pray give my warmeft regards to your father, mother, and fifters, and 
n'oub/iez jamais 

Your fincerely affectionate 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

2 Written with his noctograph. 



49 




CHAPTER V. 

1817-1824. 

Return from England. — Rheumatifm. — Fir ft Literary Adventure. — De- 
cides not to be a Lawyer. — Falls in Love. — Marries. — Continues to 
live with his Father. — Swords of his Grandfather and of the Grand- 
father of his Wife. — His Perfonal Appearance. — Club of Friends. 
— The cc Club- Roorn.^ — Determines to become a Man of Letters. — 
Obftacles in his Way. — Efforts to overcome them. — Englifh Studies. 
— French. — Italian. — Opinion of Petrarch and of Dante. — Fur- 
ther Studies propofed. — Defpairs of learning German. 

3»||E embarked from England for home at mid- 

mK fummer, and arrived before the heats of our 

Ig hot feafon were over. His affectionate mother 

§ l) Viorl orronfTPrl f±\Tf*r\Tt h i n CT fr»T h \ S TPreDtion that 




had arranged everything for his reception 
: could infure the reft he needed, and the alle- 
^fife viations which, for an invalid fuch as he was, 
can never be found except in the bofom of his family. Frefh 

7 



Chap. V. 

1 81 7. 

JEt. 21. 

His return 
home. 



5o 



Chap. V. 

1817. 
JEt. 21. 



Secluded life. 



His fifter de- 
votes herfelf 
to him. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



paper and paint were put on his own room, and everything 
external was made bright and cheerful to welcome his return. 
But it was all a miftake. His eye, to the great difappointment 
of his friends, had not been ftrengthened during his abfence, 
and could ill bear the colors that had been provided to cheer 
him. The white paint was, therefore, forthwith changed to 
gray, and the walls and carpet became green. But neither 
was this thought enough. A charming country-houfe was 
procured, fince Nature furnifhes truer carpets and hangings 
than the upholfterer ; but the houfe was damp from its cool 
pofition, and from the many trees that furrounded it. 1 His old 
enemy, the rheumatifm, therefore, fet in with renewed force ; 
and in three days, juft as his father was driving out to dine, 
for the firft time, in their rural home, he met them all hurry- 
ing back to the houfe in town, where they remained nearly two 
years, finding it better for the invalid than any other. It was 
a large, comfortable old manfion in Bedford Street, and flood 
where the Second Congregational Church now ftands. 

The winter of 18 17- 18 he pafled wholly at home. As he 
wrote to me, his " eyes made him a very domeftic, retired 
man." He avoided ftrong light as much as he could ; and, 
extravagantly as he loved fociety, indulged himfelf in it not at 
all, becaufe he found, or rather becaufe he thought he found, 
its excitements injurious to him. But his old fchoolfellow 
and friend Gardiner, who was then a ftudent-at-law in the 
elder Mr. Prefcott's office, read fome of his favorite claffics 
with him a part of each day ; and his fifter, three years younger 
than he was, fhut herfelf up with him the reft of it, in the 
moft devoted and affectionate manner, reading to him fome- 
times fix or even eight hours confecutively. On thefe occafions 
he ufed to place himfelf in the corner of the room, with his 
face to the angle made by the walls, and his back to the light. 
Adjufted thus, they read hiftory and poetry, often very far into 
the night, and, although the reader, as fhe tells me, fometimes 

1 This account is taken from the mem- graceful words I have fometimes ufed both 
oranda of his filler, Mrs. Dexter, whose here and elfewhere in the next few pages. 



First Literary Adventure. 



dozed, he never did. It was a great enjoyment to them both, — 
to her, one of the greateft of her life ; but it was found too 
much for her ftrength, and the father and mother interfered 
to reftrain and regulate what was unreafonable in the indul- 
gence. 

It was during this period that he made his firft literary 
adventure. The North-American Review had then been in 
exiftence two or three years, and was already an extremely 
refpectable journal, with which fome of his friends were con- 
nected. It offered a tempting opportunity for the exercife of 
his powers, and he prepared an article for it. The project was 
a deep fecret, and when the article was finifhed, it was given 
to his much trufted lifter to copy. He felt, fhe thinks, fome 
mifgivings, but on the whole looked with favor on his firfl- 
born. It was fent anonymoufly to the club of gentlemen who 
then managed the Review, and nothing was heard in reply for 
a week or more. The two who were in the fecret began, 
therefore, to confider their venture fafe, and the dignity of 
authorfhip, his fifter fays, feemed to be creeping over him, 
when one day he brought back the article to her, faying : 
" There ! it is good for nothing. They refufe it. I was a 
fool to fend it." The fifter was offended. But he was not. 
He only cautioned her not to tell of his failure. 

He was now nearly twenty-two years old, and it was time 
to confider what fhould be his courfe in life. So far as the 
profeffion of the law was concerned, this queftion had been 
fubftantially fettled by circumftances over which he had no 
control. His earlieft mifgivings on the fubjecl: feemed to have 
occurred during his long and painful confinement at St. Mi- 
chael's, and may be found in a letter, already inferted, which 
was written March 15th, 18 16. 

A little later, after confulting eminent members of the med- 
ical profeffion in London, he wrote more decifively and more 
defpondingly : " As to the future, it is too evident I fhall never 
be able to purfue a profeffion. God knows how poorly I am 
qualified, and how little inclined, to be a merchant. Indeed, I 



51 



Chap 


. V. 


1817 - 


1818 


JEt. 


21. 


Writes a 


re- 


view. 





Gives up all 
thoughts of 
a profefiional 
life. 



52 



Chap. V. 

,819. 
JEt. 23. 



Goes into focie- 



Falls in lo\ 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



am fadly puzzled to think how I mail fucceed even in this 
without eyes, and am afraid I mail never be able to draw upon 
my mind to any large amount," — a Angular prophecy when 
we confider that his fubfequent life for nearly forty years was a 
perfiftent contradiction of it. 

After his return home this important queftion became, of 
courfe, ftill more preffing, and was debated in his family with 
constantly increafing anxiety. At the fame time he began to 
doubt whether the purely domeftic life he was leading was the 
beft for him. The experiment of a year's feclufion, he was 
fatisfied, and fo were his medical advifers, had refulted in no 
improvement to his fight, and- promifed nothing for the future 
if it mould be continued. He began, therefore, to go abroad, 
gradually and cautioufly at firft, but afterwards freely. No 
harm followed, and from this time, except during periods 
when there was fome efpecial inflammation of the eye, he 
always mingled freely in a wide range of fociety, giving and 
receiving great pleafure. 

The confequence followed that might have been anticipated 
from a nature at once fo fufceptible and fo attractive. He foon 
found one to whom he was glad to intruft the happinefs of 
his life. Nor was he difappointed in his hopes ; for, if there 
was ever a devoted wife, or a tender and grateful hufband, they 
were to be found in the home which this union made happy. 
As he faid in a letter long afterwards, " Contrary to the afler- 
tion of La Bruyere, — who fomewhere fays, that the moft 
fortunate hufband finds reafon to regret his condition at leaft 
once in twenty-four hours, — I may truly fay that I have found 
no fuch day in the quarter of a century that Providence has 
fpared us to each other." And fo it continued to the laft. I 
am fure that none who knew them will think me miftaken. The 
lady was Sufan, daughter of Thomas C. Amory, Efq., a fuc- 
cefsful and cultivated merchant, who died in 181 2, and of 
Hannah Linzee, his wife, who furvived him, enjoying the great 
happinefs of her child, until 1845. 

In the fummer of 18 19 I returned from Europe, after an 



Marries. 



53 



abfence of more than four years. The firft friends who wel- 
comed me in my home, on the day of my arrival, were the 
Prefcott family ; and the firft houfe I vifited was theirs, in 
which from that day I was always received as if I were of 
their kin and blood. William was then in the frefheft glow 
of a young happinefs which it was delightful to witnefs, and 
of which he thought for fome months much more than he 
did of anything elfe. I faw him conftantly ; but it was ap- 
parent that, although he read a good deal, or rather liftened 
to a good deal of reading, he ftudied very little, or not at all. 
Real work was out of the queftion. He was much too happy 
for it. 

On the evening of the 4th of May, 1820, which was his 
twenty-fourth birthday, he was married at the houfe of Mrs. 
Amory, in Franklin Place. It was a wedding with a fupper, in 
the old-fafhioned ftyle, fomewhat folemn and ftately at firft ; 
many elderly people being of the party, and efpecially an aged 
grandmother of the bride, whofe prefence enforced fomething 
of formality. But later in the evening our gayety was free 
in proportion to the reftraints that had previoufly been laid 
upon it. 2 

The young couple went immediately to the houfe of the 
Prefcott family in Bedford Street, — the fame houfe, by a pleaf- 
ant coincidence, in which Mifs Linzee, the mother of the 
bride, had been married to Mr. Amory five and twenty years 
before ; and there they lived as long as that ample and com- 
fortable old manfion ftood. 3 

Another coincidence connected with this marriage mould 
be added, although it was certainly one that augured little of 
the happinefs that followed. The grandfathers of Mr. Prefcott 



z Prefcott always liked puns, and made 
a good many of them, — generally very 
bad. But one may be recorded. It was 
apropos of his marriage to Mifs Amory y 
for which, when he was joked by fome of 
his young bachelor friends as a defertcr 
from their ranks, he fhook his finger at 



them, and repeated the adage of Virgil : — 
" Omnia vincit Amor et nos cedamus Amori." 

J It was pulled down in 1845, and we 
all forrowed for it, and for the venerable 
trees by which it was furrounded. See 
vignette at the head of this chapter. 



Chap. V. 

1820. 
^Er. 24. 

His great happi 
nefs. 



He is married. 



54 



Chap. V. 

1820. 
^Et. 24. 

Colonel Prefcott 
and Captain 
Linzee. 



Prefcott's per- 
fonal beauty. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



and Mifs Amory had been engaged on oppofite fides during 
the war for American Independence, and even on oppofite 
fides of the fame fight ; Colonel Prefcott having commanded 
on Bunker Hill, while Captain Linzee, of the floop-of-war 
Falcon, cannonaded him and his redoubt from the waters of 
Charles River, where the Falcon was moored during the whole 
of the battle. The fwords that had been worn by the foldier 
and the failor on that memorable day came down as heirlooms 
in their refpective families, until at laft they met in the library 
of the man of letters, where, quietly croffed over his books, 
they often excited the notice alike of ftrangers and of friends. 
After his death they were transferred, as he had defired, to 
the Hiftorical Society of Mafiachufetts, on whole walls they 
have become the memorials at once of a hard-fought field and 
of " victories no lefs renowned than thofe of war." A more 
appropriate refting-place for them could not have been found. 
And there, we truft, they may reft in peace fo long as the two 
nations fhall exift, — trophies, indeed, of the paft, but warn- 
ings for the future. 4 

At the time of his marriage my friend was one of the fineft- 
looking men I have ever feen ; or, if this mould be deemed 
in fome refpects a ftrong exprefiion, I fhall be fully juftified, by 
thofe who remember him at that period, in faying that he was 
one of the molt attractive. He was tall, well formed, manly 
in his bearing but gentle, with light-brown hair that was hardly 
changed or diminifhed by years, with a clear complexion and 
a ruddy flufh on his cheek that kept for him to the laft an 
appearance of comparative youth, but, above all, with a fmile 
that was the moft abfolutely contagious I ever looked upon. 
As he grew older, he ftooped a little. His father's figure was 
bent at even an earlier age, but it was from an organic infirmity 
of the cheft, unknown to the conftitution of the fon, who 
ftooped chiefly from a downward inclination, which he inftinc- 
tively gave to his head fo as to protect his eye from the light. 
But his manly character and air were always, to a remarkable 

4 See Appendix B. 



His Club. 



degree, the fame. Even in the laft months of his life, when 
he was in fome other refpecls not a little changed, he appeared 
at leaf! ten years younger than he really was. And as for the 
gracious, funny fmile that feemed to grow fweeter as he grew 
older, it was not entirely obliterated even by the touch of 
death. Indeed, take him for all in all, I think no man ever 
walked our ftreets, as he did day by day, that attracted fuch 
regard and good-will from fo many ; for, however few he 
might know, there were very many that knew him, and 
watched him with unfpoken welcomes as he pafTed along. 

A little before his marriage he had, with a few friends 
nearly of his own age and of fimilar taftes, arranged a club 
for purpofes both focial and literary. Their earlieft informal 
gathering was in June, 1 8 1 8. On the firft evening they num- 
bered nine, and on the fecond, twelve. Soon, the number was 
ftill further enlarged ; but only twenty-four were at any time 
brought within its circle ; and of thefe, after an interval of 
above forty years, eleven ftill furvive (1862). 5 

Prefcott, from his happy, focial nature, as well as from his 
love of letters, was eminently fitted to be one of the members 
of fuch a club, and rarely failed to be prefent at its meetings, 
which he always enjoyed. In their earlieft days, after the 



5 The names of the members of this 
happy, scholar-like little club were, — 
♦Alexander Blifs, 
♦John Brazer, 

*George Auguftus Frederic Dawfon, 
*Franklin Dexter, 
*Samuel Atkins Eliot, 
♦William Havard Eliot, 

Charles Folfom, 

William Howard Gardiner, 

John Chipman Gray, 
♦Francis William Pitt Greenwood, 
♦Enoch Hale, 

Charles Greely Loring, 

William Powell Mafon, 

John Gorham Palfrey, 

Theophilus Parfons, 

Octavius Pickering, 



♦William Hickling Prefcott, 
Jared Sparks, 

♦William Jones Spooner, 

♦Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, 
John Ware, 
Henry Warren, 

♦Martin Whiting, 

♦Francis William Winthrop. 

Thofe marked with an afterilk are dead ; 
but it may be worth notice that, although 
feveral of the moil promifing members of 
the club died fo young that the time for 
their diftinction never came, more than 
half of the whole number have been 
known as authors, no one of whom has 
failed to do credit to the affociation in 
which his youth, in part at leaft, was 
trained. 



55 



Chap. V. 

1820. 
JEt. 24. 



His Club. 



56 



Chap. V. 

1820. 
JEt. 24. 

Its meetings. 



The Club 
Room." 



Its charafter. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



fafhion of fuch youthful focieties, they read papers of their 
own compofition, and amufed themfelves by criticifing one 
another, and fometimes their neighbors. As a natural confe- 
quence of fuch intercourfe, it was not long before they began 
to think that a part, at leaft, of what they had written was too 
good to be confined to their own meetings ; and chiefly, I 
believe, under Prefcott's leading, they determined to inftitute 
a periodical, or rather a work which mould appear at uncertain 
intervals, and be as little fubject to rules and reftrictions of any 
fort as their own gay meetings were. At any rate, if he were 
not the firft to fuggeft the project, he was the moft earneft in 
promoting it after it was ftarted, and was naturally enough, 
both from his leifure and his taftes, made editor. 

It was called "The Club Room," and the firft number was 
published February 5th, 1820. But its life, though it feems to 
have been a merry one, was fhort ; for the fourth and laft 
number appeared on the 19th of July of the fame year. Nor 
was there any efpecial reafon to lament its fate as untimely. It 
was not better than the average of fuch publications, perhaps 
not fo good. Prefcott, I think, brought but three contributions 
to it. The firft is the leading article in the fecond number, 
and gives, not without humor, an account of the way in which 
the firft number had been received when it was ufhered into 
a bufy, buftling world, too carelefs of fuch claims to its no- 
tice. The others were tales; one of which, entitled "The 
Vale of Alleriot," was more fentimental than he would have 
liked later ; and one, " Calais," was a ftory which Allfton, 
our great artift, ufed to tell with ftriking effect. Neither of 
them had anything characteriftic of what afterwards diftin- 
guifhed their author, and neither could be expected to add 
much to the popular fuccefs of fuch a publication. The beft 
of the contributions to it were, I think, three by Mr. Franklin 
Dexter, his brother-in-law; two entitled " Recollections," and 
the other, "The Ruins of Rome"; 6 the very laft being, 
in fact, a humorous anticipation of the mean and miferable 

6 See a notice of him in the account of the Prefcott Family, Appendix (A). 



Determines on a Life of Letters, 

appearance Bofton would make, if its chief edifices mould 
crumble away, and become what thofe of the miftrefs of the 
ancient world are now. " And here ended this precious publi- 
cation," as its editor, apparently with a flight feeling of vexa- 
tion, recorded its failure. Not that he could be much mortified 
at its fate ; for, if it was nothing elfe, it was an undertaking 
creditable to the young men who engaged in it fo as to ac- 
cuftom themfelves to write for the public, and it had, befides, 
not only enlivened their evenings, but raifed the tone of their 
intercourfe with each other. 7 

When the laft number of The Club Room appeared, its editor 
had been married two months. The world was before him. 
His decifion to give up the law as a profefiion was not only 
made, but he had become aware that he muft find fome other 
ferious occupation to take its place ; for he was one of thofe 
who early difcover that labor is the condition of happinefs, 
and even of content, in this world. His felection of a purfuit, 
however, was not fuddenly made. It could not be. Many 



57 



Chap. V 

1820. 
JEt. 24. 



7 I cannot refufe my readers or myfelf 
the pleafure of inferring here a faithful 
account of Prefcott's relations to this 
club, given to me by one of its original 
founders and conflant fupporters, in fome 
fketches already referred to ; I mean his 
friend Mr. William H. Gardiner. 

"The club formed in 181 8, for literary 
and focial objects combined, at firft a fup- 
per and afterwards a dinner club, was, to 
the end of our friend's days, — a period of 
more than forty years, — a fource of high 
enjoyment to him. It came to be a pecu- 
liar afTociation, becaufe compofed of men 
of nearly the fame age, who grew up to- 
gether in thofe habits of eafy, familiar in- 
tercourfe which can hardly exift except 
where the foundations are laid in very 
young days. He was, from the firft, a 
leading fpirit there, latterly quite the life 
and foul of the little company, and an 
object of particular affection as well as 
pride. He was always diftinguifhed there 
by fome particular fobriquet. At firft, we 



ufed to call him ' the gentleman,' from ; 
the circumftance of his being the only 
member who had neither profefiion nor 
oftenfible purfuit. For many years he was 
called * the editor,' from his having af- 
fumed to edit, in its day, the little maga- 
zine that has been mentioned, called 'The 
Club Room.' Finally, he won the more 
diftinguifhed title of ' the hiftorian,' and 
was often fo addrefled in the familiar talk 
of the club. It comprifed feveral of Mr. 
Prefcott's moft intimate, perfonal friends. 
The moft perfect freedom prevailed there. 
All forts of fubjects took their turn of dif- 
cufiion. So that, were it poflible to recall 
particulars of his conversations at thefe 
meetings, extending through two thirds of 
his whole life, the reader would gain a 
very perfect idea of him as a focial man. 
But the circa irTcpocvra are too fleeting for 
reproduction ; and even their fpirit and 
effect can hardly be gathered from mere 
general defcriptions." 



58 



Chap. V. 

1820. 
JEt. 24. 

Determines on a 
literary life 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Obstacles. 



circumftances in relation to it were to be weighed, and he 
had many mifgivings, and hefitated long. But his taftes and 
employments had always tended in one direction, and therefore, 
although the deciiion might be delayed, the refult was all but 
inevitable. He chofe a life of literary occupation ; and it was 
well that he chofe it fo deliberately, for he had time, before 
he entered on its more ferious labors, to make an eftimate of 
the difficulties that he muft encounter in the long path ftretched 
out before him. 

In this way he became fully aware, that, owing to the 
infirmity under which he had now fuffered during more than 
fix of the moft important years of his life, he had much to do 
before he could hope even to begin a career that mould end 
with fuch fuccefs as is worth ftriving for. In many refpecls, 
the very foundations were to be laid, and his firft thought 
was that they mould be laid deep and fure. He had never 
neglected his claffical ftudies, and now he gave himfelf afrefh 
to them during a fixed portion of each day. But his more 
confiderable deficiencies were in all modern literature. Of 
the Englifh he had probably read as much as moft perfons 
of his age and condition, or rather it had been read to him ; 
but this had been chiefly for his amufement in hours of pain 
and darknefs, not as a matter of ftudy, and much lefs upon 
a regular fyftem. French he had fpoken a little, though 
not well, while he was in France and Italy ; but he knew 
almoft nothing of French literature. And of Italian and 
Spanifh, though he had learnt fomething as a fchool-boy, it 
had been in a thoughtlefs and carelefs way, and, after the 
injury to his fight, both of them had been neglected. The 
whole, therefore, was not to be relied upon ; and moft young 
men at the age of four or five and twenty would have been 
difheartened at the profpecl: of attempting to recover fo much 
loft ground, and to make up for (o many opportunities that 
had gone by never to return. When to this is added the 
peculiar difcouragement that feemed almoft to fhut out knowl- 
edge by'its main entrance, it would have been no matter of 



English Studies. 



59 



reproach to his courage or his manhood, if he had turned 
away from the undertaking as one beyond his ftrength. 

But it is evident that he only addreffed himfelf to his talk 
with the more earneftnefs and refolution. He began, I think 
wifely, with the Englifh, being willing to go back to the very 
elements, and on the 30th of October, 1821, made a memoran- 
dum that he would undertake " a courfe of ftudies " involving, — 

" 1 . Principles of grammar, correct writing, &c. ; 

" 2. Compendious hiftory of North America ; 

" 3. Fine profe- writers of Englifh from Roger Afcham to the 
prefent day, principally with reference to their mode of writ- 
ing, — not including hiftorians, except as far as requifite for 
an acquaintance with ftyle ; 

" 4. Latin claffics one hour a day." 

The American hiftory he did not immediately touch ; but 
on the reft he entered at once, and carried out his plan vigor- 
oufly. He ftudied, as if he had been a fchool-boy, Blair's 
Rhetoric, Lindley Murray's Grammar, and the prefatory matter 
to Johnfon's Dictionary, for the grammatical portion of his 
tafk ; and then he took up the feries of good Englifh writers, 
I beginning with Afcham, Sir Philip Sidney, Bacon, Browne, 
! Raleigh, and Milton, and coming down to our own times, — 
not often reading the whole of any one author, but enough of 
each to obtain, what he more efpecially fought, an idea of his 
ftyle and general chara6teriftics. Occafionally he noted down 
I his opinion of them, — not always fuch an opinion as he 
would have juftified or entertained later in life, but always fuch 
as to fhow a fpirit of obfervation and a purpofe of improve- 
ment. Thus, under the date of November, 1821, he fays: — 

" Finifhed Roger Afcham's c Schoolmafter.' Style vigorous and polifhed, and 

I even euphonious, confidering the period ; his language often ungrammatical, 

I inelegant, and with the Latin idiom. He was one of the firft who were bold 

and wife enough to write Englifh profe. He diflikes rhyme, and thinks iambics 

the proper quantity for Englifh verfe. Hence blank verfe. He was a critical 

fcholar, but too faftidious. 

" Milton, ' Reafons of Church Government.' Style vigorous, figurative to 
conceit ; a rich and fublime imagination ; often coarfe, harfh \ conftant ufe of 



Chap. V, 

1821. 
JEt. 25. 

Refolution. 



Englifh readings 



L 



Roger Afcham. 



Milton. 



6o 



Chap. V. 

1822. 
JEt. 26. 



'Studies in 
French. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Latin idiom ; inverfion. He is very bold, confident in his own talent, with 
clofe, unrelenting argument ; upon the whole, giving the reader a higher idea of 
his iturdy principle than of his affections." 

In this way he continued nearly a year occupying himfelf 
with the good Englifh profe-writers, and, among the reft, with 
the great preachers, Taylor, Tillotfon, and Barrow, but not 
flopping until he had come down to Jeffrey and Gifford, whom 
he marked as the leading critics of our period. But during 
all this time, he gave his daily hour to the principal Latin 
claffics, efpecially Tacitus, Livy, and Cicero ; taking care, as he 
fays, to " obferve their characleriftic phyfiognomies, — not 
ftyle and manner as much as fentiments, &c." 

Having finifhed this courfe, he turned next to the French, 
going, as he intimates, " deeper and wider," becaufe his purpofe 
was not, as in the Latin, to ftrengthen his knowledge, but to 
form an acquaintance with the whole of French literature, 
properly fo called. He went back, therefore, as far as Froiffart, 
and did not ftop until he had come down to Chateaubriand. 
It was a good deal of it read by himfelf in the forenoons, thus 
faving much time ; for in 1822— 1823, except when occafional 
inflammation occurred, his eye was in a condition to do him 
more fervice than it had done him for many years, and he huf- 
banded its refources fo patiently, and with fo much care, that 
he rarely loft anything by imprudence. 

But French literature did not fatisfy him as Englifh had 
done. He found it lefs rich, vigorous, and original. He, 
indeed, enjoyed Montaigne, and admired Pafcal, whom he 
preferred to Boffuet or to Fenelon, partly, I think, for the same 
reafons that led him to prefer Corneille to Racine. But La- 
fontaine and Moliere ftood quite by themfelves in his eftima- 
tion, although in fome refpects, and efpecially in the delineation 
of a particular humor or folly, he placed Ben Jonfon before the 
great French dramatift. The forms of French poetry, and the 
rigorous fyftem of rhymes enforced in its tragedies, were more 
than commonly diftafteful to him. 

While, however, he was thus occupied with French litera- 



Italian Studies. 



ture as a matter of ferious ftudy during parts of 1822 and 1823, 
he liftened to a good deal of hiftory read to him in a mifcel- 
! laneous way for his amufement, and went through a fomewhat 
complete courfe of the old Englifh drama from Heywood to 
Dryden, accompanying it with the correfponding portions of 
Auguft Wilhelm Schlegel's Lectures, which he greatly relifhed. 
During the same period, too, we read together, at my houfe, 
three or four afternoons in each week, the Northern Antiqui- 
ties, publifhed by Weber, Jamiefon, and Scott in 18 15 ; a good 
many of the old national romances in Ritfon and Ellis, " Sir 
Triftrem," Percy's " Reliques," and portions of other fimilar 
collections, — all relating either to the very earlieft Englifh lit- 
erature or to its connection with the Scandinavian and the Teu- 
tonic. It was his firft adventure in this direction, and he enjoyed 
it not a little, — the more, perhaps, becaufe he was then going 
on with the French, in which he took lefs intereft. 

In the autumn of 1823, following out the fame general 



purpofe to which he had now devoted two years, he began 
the Italian. At firft he only read fuch books as would fooneft 
make him familiar with the language, and (o much of Sif- 
mondi's " Litterature du Midi " as would give him an outline 
of the whole field. Afterwards he took Ginguene and fome- 
times Tirabofchi for his guide, and went over an extraordinary 
amount of poetry, rather than profe, from Dante, and even from 
the " Poeti del Primo Secolo," to Metaftafio, Alfieri, and Monti. 
It feems quite furprifing how much he got through with, and 
it would be almoft incredible, if his notes on it were not full 
and decifive. He wrote, in fact, more upon Italian literature 
than he had written upon either the Englifh or the French, and 
it made apparently a much deeper imprerlion upon him than 
the laft. At different times he even thought of devoting a large 
part of his life to its ftudy; and, excepting what he has done 
in relation to Spanifh hiftory, nothing of all he has publifhed 
is {o matured and fatisfactory as two articles in the North 
American Review ; one on Italian Narrative Poetry, publifhed 
in October, 1824, and another on Italian Poetry and Romance, 
publifhed in July, 1831, both to be noticed hereafter. 



6l 



Chap. V. 

1823. 
JEt. 27. 

Englifh drama. 



Old Englifh lit- 
erature. 



Studies in Ital- 
ian. 



/ 



62 



Chap 


. V. 


182 


3- 


JEt. 


27. 



Petrarch. 



Laura. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



With what fpirit and in what tone he carried on at this 
time the ftudies which produced an effect fo permanent on 
his literary taftes and character will be better mown by the 
following familiar notes than by anything more formal : — 

TO MR. TICKNOR. 

Tuefday Morning, 8 o'clock, Dec. 15, 1823. 

Dear George, 

I am afraid you will think my ftudy too much like the lion's den ; the foot- 
fteps never turn outwards. I want to borrow more books ; viz. one volume 
of ancient Italian poetry ; I mould like one containing fpecimens of Cino da 
Piftoia, as I fufpecl: he was the beft verfifier in Petrarch's time ; alfo, Ginguene ; 
alfo, fome tranflation of Dante. 

I fpoke very rafhly of Petrarch the other day. I had only read the firft 
volume, which, though containing fome of his beft, is, on the whole, much lefs 
moving and powerful than Part II. It is a good way to read him chronologically ; 
that is, to take up each fonnet and canzone in the order, and understanding the 
peculiar circumftances, in which it was written. Ginguene has pointed out this 
courfe. 

On the whole, I have never read a foreign poet, that pofTefted more of 
the fpirit of the beft Englifh poetry. In two refpecls this is very ftriking in 
Petrarch ; — the tender paflion with which he affociates every place in the coun- 
try, the beautiful fcenery about Avignon, with the recollections of Laura ; 
and, fecondly, the moral influence which his love for her feems to have had 
upon his character, and which fhows itfelf in the religious fentiment that per- 
vades more or lefs all his verfes. 

How any one could ever doubt her exiftence who has read Petrarch's poetry, 
is a matter of aftonifhment to me. Setting afide external evidence, which feems 
to me conclufive enough, his poetry could not have been addreffed to an imagi- 
nary objecT: ; and one facl:, the particular delight which he takes in the belief 
that fhe retains in heaven, and that he fhall fee her there, with the fame counte- 
nance, complexion, bodily appearance, &c, that fhe had on earth, is fo natural 
in a real lover, and would be fo unlikely to prefs itfelf upon a fictitious one, that 
I think it is worth noticing, as affording ftrong internal evidence of her fubftan- 
tial exiftence. I believe, however, that it is admitted generally now, from fa£ts 
refpecling his family brought to light by the Abbe de Sade, a defcendant of her 
houfe. 

The richnefs and perfection of the Italian in the hands of Petrarch is truly 
wonderful. After getting over the difficulty of fome of his myftical nonfenfe, 
and reading a canzone two or three times, he imprefles one very much ; and the 
varied meafures of the canzone put the facility and melody of verfe-making to 
the ftrongeft teft. Gravina fays, there are not two words in Petrarch's verfes 
obfolete. Voltaire, I remember, fays the fame thing of the " Provincial Letters," 
written three hundred years later. Where is the work we can put our finger on 



Petrarch and Laura. 



in our own tongue before the eighteenth century and then fay the fame ? Yet 
from long before Elizabeth's time there were no invafions or immigrations to 
new-mould the language 

I hope you are all well under this awful difpenfation of fnow. I have {hov- 
elled a ftout path this morning, and can report it more than a foot deep. A fine 

evening for the party at , and I dine at ; fo I get a morning and a 

half. Give my condolence to Anna, whom I hope to meet this evening, if the 
baby is well and we mould not be buried alive in the courfe of the day. 

Yours affectionately, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

Being also fhut up in the houfe by the fnow-ftorm referred 
to, I anfwered him the fame day with a long note entering 
into the queftion of the real exiftence of Laura, and the fol- 
lowing rejoinder came the next day clofe upon the heel of 
my reply. 

TO MR. TICKNOR. 

Bedford Street, Dec. 17, 1823. 

Dear George, 
I think better of fnow-ftorms than I ever did before ; fince, though they keep 
a man's body in the houfe, they bring his mind out. I fuppofe, if it had been 
fair weather yefterday, I mould not- have had your little differtation upon Ma- 
donna Laura, which interefted as well as amufed me. As to the queftion of 

the real exiftence of Madonna, I can have but little to fay One thing 

feems to me clear, that the onus probandi is with thofe who would deny the fub- 
ftantiality of Laura ; becaufe fhe is addreffed as a living perfon by Petrarch, and 
becaufe no contemporary unequivocally ftates her to have been an ideal one. 
I fay unequivocally, becaufe the remark you refer to of one of the Colonna 
family feems to have been rather an intimation or a gratuitous fuppofition, which 
might well come from one who lived at a diftance from the fcene of attachment, 
amour, or whatever you call this Platonic paffion of Petrarch's. The Idealifts, 
however, to borrow a metaphyfical term, would fhift this burden of proof upon 
their adverfaries. On this ground I agree with you, that internal evidence 
derived from poetry, whofe effence, as you truly fay, is fiction, is liable to great 
mifinterpretation. Yet I think that, although a novel or a long poem may be 
written, addreffed to, and defcriptive of fome imaginary goddefs, &c. (I take 
it, there is not much doubt of Beatrice, or of the original of Fiammetta), yet that 
a long feries of feparate poems mould have been written with great paffion, 
under different circumftances, through a long courfe of years, from the warm 
period of boyhood to the cool retrofpective feafon of gray hairs, would, I think, 
be, in the higheft degree, improbable. But when with this you connect one or 
two external facts, e. g. the very memorandum, to which you refer, written in his 
private manufcript of Virgil, intended only for himfelf, as he exprelfty fays in 
it, with fuch folemn, unequivocal language as this : " In order to preferve the 



63 



Chap. V. 

1823. 
JEt. 27. 



Madonna Laura. 



A real perfon. 



6 4 



Chap. V. 

1823. 
^Er. 27. 



Early Italian 
poets. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



melancholy recollections of this lofs, I find a certain fatisfaction mingled with 
my forrow in noting this in a volume which often falls under my eye, and which 
thus tells me there is nothing further to delight me in this life, that my ftrongeft 
tie is broken," &c, &c. Again, in a treatife " De Contemptu Mundi," a fort of 
confeffion in which he feems to have had a fober communion with his own heart, 
as I infer from Ginguene, he fpeaks of his paffion for Laura in a very un- 
ambiguous manner. Thefe notes or memoranda, intended only for his own eye, 
would, I think, in any court of juftice be admitted as pofitive evidence of the 
truth of what they aflert. I mould be willing to reft the point at iffue on 
thefe two fa As. 

Opening his poetry, one thing ftruck me in fupport of his fincerity, in feeing a 
fonnet, which begins with the name of the friend we refer to. 



Rotta e 1'alta Col< 



e '1 verde Lauro. 



Vile puns, but he would hardly have mingled the fincere elegy of a friend 
with that of a fictitious creation of his own brain. This, I admit, is not fafe to 
build upon, and I do not build upon it. I agree that it may be highly probable 
that inveftigators, Italian, French, and Englifh, have feigned more than they 
found, — have gone into details, where only a few general facts could be hoped 
for ; but the general bafis, the real exiftence of fome woman named Laura, who 
influenced the heart, the conduct, the intellectual character, of Petrarch, is, I 
think, not to be refifted. And I believe your decifion does not materially 
differ from this. 

I return the "Poeti del Primo Secolo." Though profaic, they are fuperior to 
what I imagined, and give me a much higher notion of the general ftate of the 
Italian tongue at that early period than I had imagined it was entitled to. It is 
not more obfolete than the French in the time of Marot, or the Englifh in the 
time of Spenfer. Petrarch, however, you eafily fee, infufed into it a warmth 
and richnefs — a fplendor of poetical idiom — which has been taken up and in- 
corporated with the language of fucceeding poets. But he is the moft mufical, 
moft melancholy, of all. Sifmondi quotes Malafpina, a Florentine hiftorian, as 
writing in 1280, with all the purity and elegance of modern Tufcan. But 
I think you muft fay, Sat prata biberunt. I have poured forth enough, I think, 
confidering how little I know of the controverfy. 

I have got a long morning again, as I dine late. So, if you will let me have 
" Cary," 8 I think it may affift me in fome very knotty paflages, though I am 
afraid it is too fine [print] to read much. 

Give my love to Anna, who, I hope, is none the worfe for laft night's 
frolicking. 

Yours affectionately, 

W. H. Prescott. 

He foon finifhed Dante, and of the effect produced on him 
by that marvellous genius, at once fo coloffal and fo gentle, the 

8 Tranflation of Dante. 



Dante. 



65 



Chap. V. 



following note will give fome idea. It mould be added, that 
the impreffion thus made was never loft. He never ceafed to 1824. 
talk of Dante in the fame tone of admiration in which he -£t. 27. 
thus broke forth on the firft ftudy of him, — a noteworthy 
circumftance, becaufe, owing to the imperfecl: viiion that fo 
crippled and curtailed his ftudies, he was never afterwards able 
to refrem his firft impreffions, except, as he did it from time 
to time, by reading a few favorite paffages, or liftening to 
them. 9 

TO MR. TICKNOR. 

Jan. 21, 1824. 

Dear George, 
I fhall be obliged to you if you will let me have the "Arcadia " of Sannazaro, 
the " Paftor Fido," and the "Aminta," — together with the volumes of Gin- : 
guene, containing the criticifm of thefe poems. 

I have finifhed the Paradifo of Dante, and feel as if I had made a moft Dante 
: important addition to the fmall ftore of my acquifitions. To have read the | 
! Inferno, is not to have read Dante ; his genius mows itfelf under fo very differ- 
I ent an afpecf. in each of his three poems. The Inferno will always be the 
j moft popular, becaufe it is the moft — indeed the only one that is at all — enter- 
taining. Human nature is fo delightfullv conftituted, that it can never derive 
half the pleafure from anv relation of happinefs that it does from one of mifery 
and extreme fuffering. Then there is a great deal of narrative, of action, in 
the Inferno, and verv little in the two other parts. Notwithftanding all this, 
I think the impreffion produced on the mind of the reader by the two latter 
portions of the work much the moft pleafing. You impute a finer, a more 
exquifite (I do not mean a more powerful), intellectual character to the poet, 
and, to my notion, a character more deeply touched with a true poetical feeling. 
The Inferno confifts of a feries of pictures of the moft ingenious, the moft 
acute, and fometimes the moft difgufting bodily fufFerings. I could wifh that 
Dante had made more ufe of the mind as a fource and a means of anguifh. 
Once he has done it with beautiful effe&, in the defcription of a Barattiere, 
I believe, 10 who compares his miferable ftate in hell with his pleafant refidence 
on the banks of the Arno, and draws additional anguifh from the comparifon. 
In general, the fufFerings he inflicts are of a purely phyfical nature. His devils 



The Inferno. 



9 We, however, both liftened to the 
reading of Dante, by an accomplifhed 
Italian, a few months later ; but this I 
confider little more than a part of the 
fame ftudy of the altijjimo poet a. 

10 My friend fays, with fome hefitation, 

9 



" a Barattiere, I believe." It was in fa6t 
a " Falfificatore," — a counterfeiter , — and 
not a barrator or peculator. The barrators 
are found in the twenty-firlt canto of the 
Inferno ; but the beautiful paffage here 
alluded to is in the thirtieth. 






66 



Chap. V. 

1824. 
JEt. 27. 



The Purgatoric 



The Paradifo. 



Beatrice. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



and bad fpirits, with one or two exceptions, which I remember you pointed out, 
are much inferior in moral grandeur to Milton's. How inferior that ftupendous 
overgrown Satan of his to the fublime fpirit of Milton, not yet ftript of all its 
original brightnefs. I muft fay that I turn with more delight to the faultlefs 
tale of Francefca da Polenta, than to that of Ugolino, or any other in the 
poem. Perhaps it is in part from its being in fuch a dark fetting, that it feems 
fo exquifite, by contraft. The long talks in the Purgatorio and the difmal 
difputations in the Paradifo certainly lie very heavy on thefe parts of the work ; 
but then this very inaction brings out fome of the moft confpicuous beauties in 
Dante's compofition. 

In the Purgatorio, we have, in the firft ten cantos, the moft delicious defcrip- 
tions of natural fcenery, and we feel like one who has efcaped from a dungeon into 
a rich and beautiful country. In the latter portions of it he often indulges in a 
noble tone of moral reflection. I look upon the Purgatorio, full of fober medi- 
tation and fweet defcription, as more a F Anglaife than any other part of the Corn- 
media. In the Paradifo his fhocking argumentations are now and then enlivened 
by the pepper and fait of his political indignation, but at firft they both dis- 
couraged and difgufted me, and I thought I fhould make quick work of the 
bufinefs. But upon reading further, — thinking more of it, — I could not help 
admiring the genius which he has mown in bearing up under fo oppreffive a 
fubject. It is fo much eafier to defcribe gradations of pain than of pleafure, — 
but more efpecially when this pleafure muft be of a purely intellectual nature. 
It is like a painter fitting down to paint the foul. The Scriptures have not 
done it fuccefsfully. They paint the phyfical tortures of hell, fire, brim- 
ftone, &c, but in heaven the only joys, i. e. animal joys, are finging and 
dancing, which to few people convey a notion of high delight, and to many are 
pofitively difagreeable. 

Let any one confider how difficult, nay impoffible, it is to give an entertaining 
picture of purely intellectual delight. The two higheft kinds of pure fpirltual 
gratification which, I take it, a man can feel, — at leaft, I efteem it fo, — are 
that arifing from the confcioufnefs of a reciprocated paffion (I fpeak as a lover), 
and, fecond, one of a much more philofophic caft, that arifing from the fuc- 
cefsful exertion of his own underftanding (as in compofition, for inftance). Now 
Dante's pleafures in the Paradifo are derived from these fources. Not that he 
pretends to write books there, but then he difputes like a doctor upon his own 
ftudies, — fubje&s moft interefting to him, but unfortunately to nobody elfe. 
It is comical to fee how much he plumes himfelf upon his fuccefsful polemical 
difcuffions with St. John, Peter, &c, and how he makes thofe good faints praife 
and flatter him. 

As to his paffion for Beatrice, I think there is all the internal evidence 
of its being a genuine palfion, though her early death, and probably his 
much mufing upon her, exaggerated her good qualities into a fort of myftical 
perfonification of his own, very unlike the original. His drinking in all 
his celeftial intelligence from her eyes, though rather a myftical fentimentalifm, 
is the moft glorious tribute that ever was paid to woman. It is lucky, on the 
whole, that fhe died when fhe was young, as, had fhe lived to marry him, he 



Dante. 



would very likely have picked a quarrel with her, and his Divine Comedy 
have loft a great fource of its infpiration. 

In all this, however, there was a great want of action, and Dante was forced, 
as in the Purgatorio, to give vent to his magnificent imagination in other ways. 
He has, therefore, made ufe of all the meagre hints fuggefted metaphorically by 
the Scriptures, and we have the three ingredients, light, mufic, and dancing, 
in every poffible and impolfible degree and diverfity. The Inferno is a fort 
of tragedy, full of action and of characters, all well preferved. The Paradifo 
is a great melodrama, where little is faid, but the chief fkill is beftowed upon 
the machinery, — the getting up, — and, certainly, there never was fuch a 
getting up, anywhere. Every canto blazes with a new and increafed effulgence. 
The very reading of it by another pained my poor eyes. And yet, you never 
become tired with thefe gorgeous illuftrations, — it is the defcriptions that fatigue. 

Another beauty, in which he indulges more freely in the laft than in the 
other parts, is his unrivalled fimiles. I mould think you might glean from 
the Paradifo at leaft one hundred all new and appropriate, fitting, as he fays, 
" like a ring to a finger," and moft beautiful. Where are there any compari- 
fons fo beautiful ? 

I muft fay I was difappointed with the laft canto ; but then, as the Irifh- 
man said, I expected to be. For what mortal mind could give a portrait of the 
Deity. The moft confpicuous quality in Dante, to my notion, is fimplicity. 
In this I think him fuperior to any work I ever read, unlefs it be fome parts 
of the Scriptures. Homer's allufions, as far as I recollect, are not taken from 
as fimple and familiar, yet not vulgar, objects, as are Dante's, — from the moft 
common intimate relations of domeftic life, for inftance, to which Dante often 
with great fweetnefs and nature alludes. 

I think it was a fortunate thing for the world, that the firft poem in modern 
times was founded on a fubjecl: growing out of the Chriftian religion, or more 
properly on that religion itfelf, and that it was written by a man deeply pene- 
trated with the fpirit of its fterneft creed. The religion indeed would have 
had its influence fooner or later upon literature. But then a work like Dante's, 
fhowing fo early the whole extent of its powers, muft have had an incalculable in- 
fluence over the intellectual world, — an influence upon literature almoft as re- 
markable as that exerted by the revelation of Chriftianity upon the moral world. 

As to Cary, I think Dante would have given him a place in his ninth 
heaven, if he could have forefeen his Translation. It is moft aftonifhing, giving 
not only the literal correfponding phrafe, but the fpirit of the original, the true 
Dantefque manner. It mould be cited as an evidence of the compactnefs, the 
pliability, the fweetnefs, of the Englifh tongue. It particularly fhows the wealth 
of the old vocabulary, — it is from this that he has felected his rich ftock of ex- 
preftions. It is a triumph of our mother tongue that it has given every idea 
of the moft condenfed original in the Italian tongue in a fmaller compafs in 
this tranflation, — his cantos, as you have no doubt noticed, are five or fix lines 
fhorter generally than Dante's. One defect he has. He does not, indeed he 
could not, render the naive terms of his original. This is often noticeable, but 
it is the defect of our language, or rather of our ufe of it. One fault he has, 
one that runs through his whole tranflation, and makes it tedious •, viz. a too 



67 



Chap. V. 

1824. 
JEt. 27. 

The Divina 
Commedia as 
a whole. 



Its fimiles. 



Laft canto. 



A Chriftian 
poem. 



Cary's Tranfla- 
tion. 



68 



Chap. V. 

1824. 
JEt. 28. 



Propofes to 
German, 



ftudy 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



clofe affimilation to, or rather adoption of, the Italian idiom. This leads him 
often to take liberties not allowable in Englifh, — to be ungrammatical, and fo 
elliptical as to be quite unintelligible. 

Now I have done, and if you afk me what I have been doing all this for, or, 
if I chofe to write it, why I did not put it in my Commonplace, I anfwer, — 
1 ft. That when I began this epiftle, I had no idea of being fo lengthy (as we 
fay) ; 2d. That, in all purfuits, it is a great delight to find a friend to com- 
municate one's meditations and conclufions to, and that you are the only friend 
I know in this buftling, money-getting world, who takes an intereft in my 
peculiar purfuits, as well as in myfelf. So, for this caufe, I pour into your un- 
happy ear what would elfe have been decently locked up in my efcritolre. 

I return you Petrarca, TafTo, Ginguene, Vols. I. — IV., and (hall be obliged to 
you, in addition to the books firft fpecified, for any tranflation, &c, if you have 
any of thofe books ; alfo for an edition — if you have fuch — of the Canter- 
bury Tales, Vol. I., that contains a gloflary at the bottom of each page below 
the text ; Tyrrwhitt's being a dictionary. 

Give my love to Anna, and believe me, dear George, now and ever, 

Yours affectionately, 

W. H. Prescott. 

Purfuing the Italian in this earneft way for about a year, he 
found that his main purpofes in relation to it were accom- 
plished, and he would gladly, at once, have begun the German, 
of which he knew nothing at all, but which, for a confiderable 
period, he had deemed more important to the general fcholar- 
fhip at which he then aimed than any other modern language, 
and certainly more important than any one of which he did 
not already feel himfelf fufficiently matter. " I am now," he 
recorded, two years earlier, in the fpring of 1822, "twenty-fix 
years of age nearly. By the time I am thirty, God willing, 
I propofe, with what ftock I have already on hand, to be a 
very well read Englifh fcholar ; to be acquainted with the 
claflical and ufeful authors, profe and poetry, in Latin, French, 
and Italian, and efpecially in hiftory ; I do not mean a critical 
or profound acquaintance. The two following years I may 
hope to learn German, and to have read the claflical German 
writers ; and the tranflations, if my eye continues weak, of the 
Greek. And this is enough/' he adds quietly, " for general 
difcipline." J 

But the German, as he well knew, was much lefs eafy of 



Gives tip German, 



acquifition than any of the modern languages to which he 
had thus far devoted himfelf, and its literature much more 
unmanageable, if not more abundant. He was, however, 
unwilling to abandon it, as it afforded fo many important 
facilities for the purfuits to which he intended to give his 
life. But the infirmity of his fight decided this, as it had 
already decided, and was deftined later to decide, fo many 
other queftions in which he was deeply interefted. After 
much deliberation, therefore, he gave up the German, as a 
thing either beyond his reach, or demanding more time for 
its acquifition than he could reafonably give to it. It feemed, 
in fad:, all but an impoflibility to learn it thoroughly ; the 
only way in which he cared to learn anything. 

At the outfet he was much difcouraged by the conclufion 
to which he had thus come. The acquifition of the German 
was, in fad:, the firft obftacle to his fettled literary courfe which 
his patience and courage had not been able to furmount, and 
for a time he became, from this circumftance, lefs exact and 
methodical in his ftudies than he had previoufly been. He 
recorded late in the autumn of 1824 : "I have read with no 
method and very little diligence or fpirit for three months/' 
This he found an unfatisfad:ory ftate of things. He talked 
with me much about it, and feemed, during nearly a year, 
more unfettled as to his future courfe, fo far as I can now 
recoiled:, than he had ever feemed to me earlier ; certainly, 
more than he ever feemed to me afterwards. Indeed, he was 
quite unhappy about it» 




69 

Chap. V. 

1824. 
Mr. 28. 



Gives up Ger- 
man. 



7o 



Chap. VI. 

1824. 
JEt. 28. 

Firft thoughts of 
Spanifli. 




CHAPTER VI. 

1824-1828. 

He ftudies Spanifh inftead of German. — Firft Attempts not earneft. — 
Mablys "Etude de THiftoire." — Thinks of writing Hiftory. — Dif- 
ferent Subjecls fuggefted. — Ferdinand and Ifabella. — Doubts long. — 
Writes to Mr. A. H. Everett. — Delay from Suffering in the Eye. — 
Orders Books from Spain. — Plan of Study. — Hefitates from the Con- 
dition of his Sight. — Determines to go on. — His Reader, Mr. Englifh. 
— Procefs of Work. — Eftimates and Plans. 

N accident — as is fometimes the cafe in the 
life of even the moft earneft and confiftent 
men — had now an influence on him not at 
all anticipated by either of us at the time, and 
one which, if it ultimately proved a guiding 
impulfe, became fuch rather from the force of 
his own character than through any movement imparted to 
him from without. 

I had, at this period, been almoft exclufively occupied for 
two or three years with Spanifh literature, and had completed 
a courfe of lectures on Spanifh literary hiftory, which I had 
delivered to the higheft clafs in Harvard College, and which 
became, many years afterwards, the bafis of a work on that 
fubjecl. Thinking fimply to amufe and occupy my friend at 
a time when he feemed much to need it, I propofed to read 
him thefe lectures in the autumn of 1824. For this purpofe 
he came to my houfe in the early part of a fucceffion of even- 




Earliest Spanish Studies. 



ings, until the whole was completed ; and in November he 
determined, as a fubftitute for the German, to undertake the 
Spanilh, which had not previoufly constituted any part of his 
plan of ftudy. 1 

He made his arrangements for it at once, and we prepared 
together a lift of books that he mould read. It was a great 
and unexpected pleafure to me to find him launched on a 
courfe of ftudy in which I had long been interefted, and I 
certainly encouraged him in it as much as I could without 
being too felfifh. 

Soon after this, however, I left home with my family, and 
was abfent during the greater part of the winter. My houfe 
was, of courfe, (hut up, except that fervants were left in charge 
of it ; but it had been underftood between us, that, as he had 
no Spanifh books of his own, he mould carry on his Spanilh 
ftudies from the refources he would find in my library. On 
the i ft of December he began a regular drill in the language, 
with a teacher, and on the fame day, by way of announcing it, 
wrote to me : — 

" Your manfion looks gloomy enough, I promife you, and as I pafs it fome- 
times in the evening, with no cheerful light within to relieve it, it frowns doublv 
difmal on me. As to the interior, I have not fet my foot within its precincSts 
fince your departure, which, you will think, does not augur well for the Spanifh. 
I propofe, however, intruding upon the filence of the illuftrious dead, the latter 
part of this week, in order to carry off the immortal remains of Don Antonio 
de Solis, whom you, dear George, recommended me to begin with." 

This was the opening of the Spanilh campaign, which ended 
only with his life ; and it is worth noting that he was already 
more than twenty-eight years old. A few days afterwards he 
writes : " I fnatch a fraction of the morning from the inter- 
efting treatife of Monsieur JofTe on the Spanifh language, 2 and 
from the ' Conquifta de Mexico,' which, notwithftanding 
the time I have been upon it, I am far from having con- 



71 



Chap. VI. 

1824. 
JEt. 28. 

Determines to 
ftudy Spanifh. 



Begins to work. 



Solis. 



1 He fpeaks of this in February, 1841, 
writing to Don Pafcual de Gayangos, one 
of our mutual Spanifh friends ; when, 
referring back to the year 1824, he lays, 



"I heard Mr. Ticknor's lectures then with 
great pleafure." 

2 JofTe, Ele'mens de la Grammaire de 
la Langue Efpagnole. 



Spanifh notes. 



72 



Chap. VI. 

1825. 
JEt. 28. 



Progrefs in Span 
ifh ftudies. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



quered." 3 But he foon became earneft in his work. On the 
24th of January, 1825, he wrote to me again : — 

" I have been much bent upon Spanifh the laft month, and have uncourteoufly 

refifted all invitations to break in upon my courfe of reading. I begin 

to feel my way perceptibly in it now. Did you never, in learning a language, 
after groping about in the dark for a long while, fuddenly feem to turn an angle, 
where the light breaks upon you all at once ? The knack feems to have come 
to me within the laft fortnight, in the fame manner as the art of fwimming 
comes to thofe who have been fplafhing about for months in the water in vain. 

Will you have the goodnefs to inform me in your next, where I can find 

fome fimple treatife on Spanifh verification, — alfo in which part of your library 
is the c Amadis de Gaula.' 4 For I prefume, as Cervantes fpared it from the bon- 
fire, you have it among your treafures. I have been accompanying my courfe 
with Sifmondi and Bouterwek, and I have been led more than once to reflect 
upon the injuftice you are doing to yourfelf in fecluding your own manufcript 
Lectures from the world. Neither of thefe writers has gone into the fubjedfr 
as thoroughly as you have," &c, &c. 5 

On coming back after my abfence, he began to write me 
notes in Spanifh, borrowing or returning books, and fometimes 
giving his opinion about thofe he fent home. His ftyle was not, 
indeed, of the pureft Caftilian, but it was marked with a clear- 
nefs and idiomatic vigor which not a little furprifed me. Three 
of thefe notes, which he wrote in March and April, 1825, ftill 
furvive to give proof of his great induftry and fuccefs ; and one 
of them is curious for opinions about Solis, more fevere than 
he afterwards entertained when he came to ftudy that hiftorian's 
work on the Conqueft of Mexico as a part of the materials for 
his own. 6 



* In the early part of his Spanifh ftud- 
ies, as he here intimates, he was not much 
interefted. At Chriftmas, 1824, he wrote 
to his friend Mr. Bancroft: " I am battling 
with the Spaniards this winter, but I have 
not the heart for it that I had for the Ital- 
ians. I doubt whether there are many 
valuable things that the key of knowledge 
will unlock in that language " ; — an amuf- 
ing prediction, when we confider what fol- 
lowed. 

4 He remembered, no doubt, the boy- 
ifh pleafure he had found in reading South- 
ey's 7'ifacimento of it. See ante, p. 10. 



5 This, with much more like it in the 
prefent letter and in other letters, which 
I do not cite, was founded in a miftake, 
made by his kindnefs for me. The Lec- 
tures were far from being what he sup- 
pofed them to be. They needed to be 
entirely recaft, before they could be pre- 
fented to the public with any decent claims 
to thoroughnefs. In fadl:, " The History 
of Spanifh Literature" did not appear until 
a long time afterwards, and then it bore 
very few traces of its academic origin. 

6 On another occafion, making fome re- 
marks about Ercilla's "Araucana," he fays, 



Wants a Stibject. 



73 



But, during the fummer of 1825, his reading was very mif- 
, cellaneous, and, excepting " Doblado's Letters on Spain/' by 
Blanco White, no part of it, I think, was connected with his 
ftrictly Spanifh ftudies. In the autumn, however, becoming 
much diffatisried with this unfettled and irregular fort of life, 
he began to look round for a fubject to which he could give 
continuous thought and labor. On the 16th of October he 
recorded : " I have been {o hefitating and reflecting upon what 
I fhall do, that I have, in fact, done nothing." And October 
30th : " I have paffed the laft fortnight in examination of a 
fuitable fubject for hiftorical compofition. 7 It is well to de- 
termine with caution and accurate infpection." 

At firft his thoughts were turned towards American hiftory, 
on which he had beftowed a good deal of rather idle time 
during the preceding months, and to which he now gave 
more. 8 But Spanifh literature began, unexpectedly to him, to 
have ftronger attractions. He read, or rather liftened to, the 
whole of Mariana's beautiful hiftory, giving careful attention to 
fome parts of it, and paffing lightly over the reft. And in con- 
nection with this, as his mind became more directed to fuch 
fubjedts, he liftened with great intereft to Mably's "Etude de 
l'Hiftoire," — a work which had much influence in giving 



in the fame fpirit, " Both Solis and Ercilla 
i difguft the temperate reader by the little 
I value they fet upon the fufferings of the 

heathen." In this view of the matter I 

heartily concur with him. 

7 As early as 1820, I find that he had 
been greatly impreffed by reading Gib- 
bon's Autobiography with Lord Shef- 
field's additions, — a book which he al- 

| ways regarded with peculiar intereft, and 
which doubtlefs had its influence in origi- 
nally determining him to venture on hiftor- 
ical compofition. In one of his letters 
written in 1845, he fays, he finds memo- 
randa of a tendency to hiftorical ftudies as 
early as 18 19. 

8 Two or three years earlier than this 
date — probably in 1822 — I find the fol- 
lowing among his private memoranda : — 

10 



" Hiftory has always been a favorite ftudy 
with me ; and I have long looked forward 
to it, as a fubjeft on which I was one day 
to exercife my pen. It is not rafh, in the 
dearth of well-written American hiftory, 
to entertain the hope of throwing light 
upon this matter. This is my hope. But 
it requires time, and a long time, before the 
mind can be prepared for this department 
of writing." He took time, as we fhall 
fee, for it was feven years, at leaft, after 
this paffage was written, before he began 
the compofition of his Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella. " I think," he fays, " thirty-five 
years of age full foon enough to put pen 
to paper." As it turned out, he began in 
earneft a little before he had reached thirty- 
four. 



Chap. VI. 

1825. 
29. 



JEt. 



Mably's Etude 
de l'Hiitoire. 



74 



Chap. VI. 

1825. 
JEt. 29. 



Spanifh hiftory. 



Readings of 
Dante, Taftb, 
&c. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



its final direction to his life, and which he always valued 
both for its acutenefs and for its power of fetting the reader 
to think for himfelf. The refult was that, at Chriftmas, after 
no little reflection and anxiety, he made the following memo- 
randum : — 

" I have been hefitating between two topics for hiftorical investigation, — 
Spanifh hiftory from the invafion of the Arabs to the confolidation of the 
monarchy under Charles V., or a hiftory of the revolution of ancient Rome, 
which converted the republic into a monarchy. A third fubjecl: which invites 
me is a biographical fketch of eminent geniufes, with criticifms on their produc- 
tions and on the character of their times. I fhall probably felect the firft, as 
lefs difficult of execution than the fecond, and as more novel and entertaining 
than the laft. But I muft difcipline my idle fancy, or my meditations will be 
little better than dreams. I have devoted more than four hours per diem to 
thinking or dreaming on thefe fubje&s." 

But this delay was no matter of ferious regret to him. He 
always deliberated long before he undertook anything of con- 
fequence, and, in regard to his examination of this very matter, 
he had already recorded : " I care not how long a time I take 
for it, provided I am diligent in all that time." 

He was a little diftra&ed, however, at this period, by 
the thought of writing fomething like a hiftory or general 
examination of Italian literature. As we have noticed, he had 
in 1823 been much occupied with the principal Italian authors, 
and had found the ftudy more interefting than any he had 
previoufly purfued in modern literature. A little later — that 
is, in the autumn of 1824 and the fpring of 1825 — an accom- 
plished Italian exile was in Bofton, and, partly to give him 
occupation, and partly for the pleafure and improvement to be 
obtained from it, I invited the unfortunate fcholar to come 
three or four times a week, and read aloud to me from the 
principal poets of his country. Prefcott joined me in it regu- 
larly, and fometimes we had one or two friends with us. In this 
way we went over large portions of the " Divina Commedia," 
and the whole of the " Gerufalemme Liberata," parts of Ariofto's 
" Orlando Furiofo," and feveral plays of Alfieri. The fittings 
were very agreeable, fometimes protracted to two or three 



Thinks of Italian and Spanish Subjects. 

hours, and we not only had earneft and amufing, if not always 
very profitable, difcuffions about what we heard, but fometimes 
we followed them up afterwards with careful inquiries. The 
pleafure of the meetings, however, was their great attraction. 
The Italian fcholar read well, and we enjoyed it very much. 
In confequence of this, Prefcott now turned again to his Italian 
ftudies, and made the following record : — 

" I have decided to abandon the Roman fubjecl:. A work on the revolutions 
of Italian literature has invited my confideration this week, — a work which, 
without giving a chronological and minute analyfis of authors, mould exhibit in 
mafles the moft important periods, revolutions, and characters in the hiftory of 
Italian letters. The fubjecl: would admit of contraction or expanfion ad libitum ; 
and I mould be fpared — what I deteft — hunting up latent, barren an- 
tiquities." 

The laft remark is noteworthy, becaufe it is one of the 
many inftances in which, after fevere confideration, he fchooled 
himfelf to do well and thoroughly what he much difliked to 
do, and what was in itfelf difficult. 

But on the fame occafion he wrote further : — 

" The fubjecl: would require a mafs of [general] knowledge and a critical 
knowledge of the Italian in particular. It would not be new, after the produc- 
tion of Sifmondi and the abundant notices in modern Reviews. Literary hiftory 
is not fo amufing as civil. Cannot I contrive to embrace the gift of the Spanifh 
fubjecl:, without involving myfelf in the unwieldy, barbarous records of a thoufand 
years ? What new and interefting topics may be admitted — not forced — into 
the reigns of Ferdinand and Ifabella ? Can I not indulge in a retrofpe&ive 
picture of the Conftitutions of Caftile and Aragon, — of the Moorifh dynafties, 
and the caufes of their decay and diflblution ? Then I have the Inquifition, 
with its bloody perfecutions ; the Conqueft of Granada, — a brilliant pa Mage ; 
the exploits of the Great Captain in Italy, — a proper character for romance 
as well as hiftory ; the difcovery of a new world, my own country ; the new 
policy of the monarchs towards the overgrown ariftocracy, &c, &c. A Biog- 
raphy will make me refponfible for a limited fpace only ; will require much lefs 
reading (a great confideration with me) ; will offer the deeper intereft which al- 
ways attaches to minute developments of character, and a continuous, clofely con- 
nected narrative. The fubjecT: brings me to the point whence [modern] Englifh 
hiftory has ftarted, is untried ground, and in my opinion a rich one. The age 
of Ferdinand is moft important, as containing the germs of the modern fvftcm 
of European politics ; and the three fovereigns, Henry VII., Louis XL, and 
Ferdinand, were important engines in overturning the old fyftem. It is in every 
refpecl: an interefting and momentous period of hiftory ; the materials authentic, 
ample. I will chew upon this matter, and decide this week." 



75 



Chap. VI. 

1825. 
JEt. 29. 



Italian fubjedl. 



Spanifh fubjedt. 



76 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 29. 

Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



Anxieties about 
his fubjedl. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Takes the Span- 
ifh fubjea. 



In May, 1847, above twenty years afterwards, he noted in 
pencil on this paffage, " This was the firft germ of my concep- 
tion of Ferdinand and Ifabella. " 

But he did not, as he hoped he mould, decide in a week, 
although, having advanced well towards a decifion, he foon 
began to ad: as if it were already made. On the 15th of Jan- 
uary, 1826, when the week had expired, he recorded : — 

" Still doubting, looked through Hita's ' Guerras de Granada,' Vol. I. The 
Italian fubjecl has fome advantages over the Spanifh. It will fave me at leaft 
one year's introductory labor. It is in the regular courfe of my ftudies, and I am 
comparatively at home in literary hiftory, particularly the Italian. This fubjecl 
has not only exercifed my ftudies, but my meditations, fo that I may fairly 
eftimate my ftarting ground at one year. Then I have tried this topic in public 
journals, and know the meafure of my own ftrength in relation to it. I am 
quite doubtful of my capacity for doing juftice to the other fubjecl. I have 
never exercifed my mind upon fimilar matters, and I have ftored it with no 
materials for comparifon. How can I pronounce upon the defects or virtues of 
the Spanifh conftitutions, when I am hardly acquainted with thofe of other 
nations? How can I eftimate the confequences, moral, political, &c, of laws 
and inftitutions, when I have, in all my life, fcarcely ever looked the fubjecl: in 
the face, or even read the moft elementary treatife upon it ? But will not a 
year's labor, judicioufly directed, put me on another footing ? " 

After fome further difcuffion in the nature of a foliloquy, he 

adds : — 

" I believe the Spanifh fubjecl: will be more new than the Italian ; more 
interefting to the majority of readers ; more ufeful to me by opening another 
and more practical department of ftudy ; and not more laborious in relation to 
authorities to be confulted, and not more difficult to be difcuffed with the 
lights already afforded me by judicious treatifes on the moft intricate parts of 
the fubjecl:, and with the allowance of the introductory year for my novitiate 
in a new walk of letters. The advantages of the Spanifh topic, on the whole, 
overbalance the inconvenience of the requifite preliminary year. For thefe 
reafons, I fubfcribe to the Hiftory of the Reign of Ferdinand and Ifabella, January 
19th, 1826." 

And then follows in pencil, — "A fortunate choice, May, 

1847." 

He therefore began in earneft, and, on the 22d of January, 
prepared a lift of books fuch as he mould require, and wrote a 
long letter to Mr. Alexander H. Everett, then our Minifter at 
Madrid, an accomplished fcholar himfelf, and one who was 



always interefted in whatever regarded the caufe of letters. 
They had already been in correfpondence on the fubje<5t, and 
Mr. Everett had naturally advifed his younger friend to come 
to Spain, and make for himfelf the collections he needed, at 
the fame time offering to ferve him in any way he could. 

" I entirely agree with you," Prefcott replied, " that it would be highly 
advantageous for me to vifit Spain, and to dive into the arcana of thofe libraries, 
which, you fay, contain fuch ample ftores of hiftory, and I allure you, that, as 
I am fituated, no confideration of domeftic eafe would detain me a moment 
from an expedition, which, after all, would not confume more than four or five 
months. But the ftate of my eyes, or rather eye, — for I have the ufe of only 
one half of this valuable apparatus, — precludes the poffibility of it. During 
the laft year this one has been fadly plagued with what the phyficians are pleafed 
to call a rheumatic inflammation, for which I am now under treatment. . . . . 
I have always found travelling, with its neceffary expofures, to be of infinite dif- 
fervice to my eyes, and in this ftate of them particularly I dare not rifk it. 

" You will alk, with thefe difadvantages, how I can expect to fucceed in my 
enterprife. I anfwer, that I hope always to have a partial ufe of my eyes, and, 
for the reft, an intelligent reader, who is well acquainted with French, Spanifh, 
and Latin, will enable me to effecl: with my ears what other people do with 
their eyes. The only material inconvenience will be a neceffarily more tedious 
and prolonged labor. Johnfon fays, in his Life of Milton, that no man can 
compile a hiftory who is blind. But although I fhould lofe the ufe of my vifion 
altogether (an evil not in the leaft degree probable), by the blemng of God, if my 
ears are fpared me, I will difprove the affertion, and my chronicle, whatever 
other demerits it may have, fhall not be wanting in accuracy and refearch.9 
If my health continues thus, I fhall neceffarily be debarred from many of the 
convivial, not to fay focial pleafures of life, and confequently muft look to 
literarv purfuits as the principal and permanent fource of future enjoyment. As 
with thefe views I have deliberately taken up this project, and my progrefs, fince 
I have begun to break ground, entirely fatisfies me of the feafibility of the 
undertaking, you will not wonder that I fhould be extremely folicitous to bring 
within my control an ample quantity of original materials, fuch as will enable 
me to achieve my defign, and fuch as will encourage me to purfue it with fteady 
diligence, without fear of competition from any quarter." 



9 " To compile a hiftory from various 
authors, when they can only be confulted 
by others' eyes, is not eafy, nor poffible, 
without more fkilful and attentive help 
than can be commonly obtained ; and it 
was probably the difficulty of confulting 
and comparing, that flopped Milton's nar- 
rative at the Conqueft, — a period at which 
affairs were not very intricate, nor authors 
! very numerous." — Johnfon's Works, (Lon- 



don, 1816,) Vol. IX. p. 115. "This re- 
mark of the great critic," fays Prefcott in 
a note to the Preface of Ferdinand and 
Ifabella, (1837,) where it is cited, — "This 
remark, which firft engaged my attention 
in the midft of my embarrafiments, al- 
though difcouraging at firft, in the end 
ftimulated my defire to overcome them." 
Nitor in adverfum might have been his 
motto. 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 29. 



Letter to A. 
Everett. 



H. 



Difficult for him 
to write hif- 
tory. 



Thinks he can 
do it. 



78 



Chap 


VI 




182 


6. 




Mr. 


3°- 




New troubles 


in 


his eye 







Difcourage- 
ments. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



But his courage and patience were put to a new and fevere 
trial, before he could even place his foot upon the threshold of 
the great undertaking whole difficulties he eftimated fo juftly. 
A dozen years later, in May, 1838, when the Ferdinand and 
Ifabella was already publifhed, he made a memorandum in 
pencil on the letter juft cited : " This very letter occafioned the 
injury to the nerve from which I have never fince recovered." 
Precifely what this injury may have been, I do not know. 
He calls it at firft " a ftiffnefs of the right eye," as if it were a 
recurrence there of the rheumatifm which was always more or 
lefs in fome part of his perfon ; but a few months afterwards 
he fpeaks of it as " a new diforder." It was, I apprehend, only 
the refult of an effort too great for the enfeebled organ, and, 
whenever any confiderable fimilar exertion during the reft of 
his life was required from it, he ufed to defcribe the fenfa- 
tion he experienced as " a ftrain of the nerve." It was, no 
doubt, fomething of the fort on this occafion, and he felt for a 
time much difcouraged by it. 

The letter which it had coft him fo much to write, becaufe 
he thought it neceffary to do it with uncommon care, was left 
in his portfolio to wait the refult of this frefh and unexpected 
attack on the poor refources of his fight. It was a painful 
interval. Severe remedies were ufed. The cuppings then 
made on his temples left marks that he carried to his grave. 
But in his darkened room, where I conftantly faw him, and 
fometimes read to him, his fpirits never failed. He bated "no 
jot of heart or hope." 

At laft, after above four weary months, which he pafled almoft 
always in a dark room, and during which he made no record, I 
find an entry among his memoranda dated "June 4, 1826. A 
melancholy gap," he fays, " occafioned by this new diforder in 
the eye. It has, however, {o much abated this fummer, that I 
have fent my orders to Madrid. I truft I may yet be permitted 
to go on with my original plan. What I can't read may be 
read to me. I will fecure what I can of the foreign tongues, 
and leave the Englifh to my fecretary. When I can't get fix, 



Plan of Study for Ferdinand and Isabella. 

get four hours per day. I muft not wafte time in going too 
deeply or widely into my fubjed: ; or, rather, I muft confine 
myfelf to what exclusively and directly concerns it. I muft 
abjure manufcript and fine print. I muft make memoranda 
accurate and brief of every book I read for this object. Trav- 
elling at this lame gait, I may yet hope in five or fix years to 
reach the goal.' , In this, however, he was miftaken. It proved 
to be twice as much. 

As foon as the order for books was defpatched, he made his 
plan of work. It was as ample and bold as if nothing had 
occurred to check his hopes. 

"My general courfe of ftudy," he fays, "muft be as follows. I. General 
Laws, &c. of Nations. 2. Hiftory and Conftitution of England. 3. Hiftory 
and Government of other European Nations, — France, Italy to 1550, Germany, 
Portugal. Under the laft two divifions, I am particularly to attend to the period 
intervening between 1400 and 1550. 4. General Hiftory of Spain, — its 
Geography, its Civil, Ecclefiaftical, Statistical Concerns ; particularly from 1400 
to 1550. 5. Ferdinand's Reign en gros. 6. Whatever concerns fuch portions 
of my fubjecl: as I am immediately to treat of. The general divifion of 
it I will arrange when I have gone through the firft five departments. 

"This order of ftudy I fhall purfue, as far as my eyes will allow. When 
they are too feeble to be ufed, I muft have Englifh writers read to me, and then 
I will felecl: fuch works as have the neareft relation to the department of ftudy 
which I may be inveftigating." 

Immediately after this general ftatement of his plan follows 
a lift of feveral hundred volumes to be read or confulted, 
which would have been enough, one would think, to alarm 
the ftouteft heart, and feverely tax the beft eyes. This, indeed, 
he fometimes felt to be the cafe. Circumftances feemed occa- 
fionally to be ftronger than his ftrong will. He tried, for 
inftance, foon after making the laft record, to read a little, and 
went, at the rnoft moderate rate, through half a volume of 
Montefquieu's " Efprit des Lois," which was to be one of the 
firft ftepping-ftones to his great fabric. But the trouble in his 
fight was fo ferioufly aggravated by even this experiment, very 
cautioufly made, that he recorded it as " a warning to defift 
from all further ufe of his eye for the prefent, if not for ever." 
In fad:, for three months and more he did not venture to open 
a book. 



79 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 30. 



Plan of ftudy. 



Lift of books. 



8o 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 30. 



Hefitation. 



Final refolution, 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



At the end of that time he began to doubt whether, during 
the period in which it now feemed all but certain that he 
could have no ufe of his eye, and muft often be fhut up in a 
darkened room, he had not better, without giving up his main 
purpofe, undertake fome other work more manageable than 
one that involved the ufe of books in feveral foreign languages. 
On the 1 ft of October, therefore, he records, evidently with 
great regret : — 

" As it may probably be fome years before I mall be able to use my own eyes 
in ftudy, or even find a fiiitable perfon to read foreign languages to me, I have 
determined to poftpone my Spanifh fubjecl:, and to occupy myfelf with an 
Hiftorical Survey of Englifh Literature. The fubjecl: has never been difcufied 
as a whole, and therefore would be fomewhat new, and, if well conducted, 
popular. But the great argument with me is, that, while it is a fubjecl: with 
which my previous ftudies have made me tolerably acquainted and have furnifhed 
me with abundance of analogies in foreign literatures, it is one which I may 
inveftigate nearly as well with my ears as with my eyes, and it will not be diffi- 
cult to find good readers in the Englifh, though extremely difficult in any foreign 
language. Fauftum fit" 

A month, however, was fufficient to fatisfy him that this 
was a miftake, and that the time which, with his ultimate 
purpofe of writing a large work on Spanifh hiftory, he could 
afford to give to this intercalary project, could do little with a 
fubjecl: {o broad as Englifh literature. After looking through 
Warton's fragment and Turner's Anglo-Saxons, he therefore 
writes, November 5th, 1826: — 

" I have again, and I truft finally, determined to profecute my former fubjecl:, 
the Reign of Ferdinand and Ifabella. In taking a more accurate furvey of my 
projected Englifh Literary Hiftory, I am convinced it will take at leaft five years 
to do anything at all fatisfa&ory to myfelf, and I cannot be content to be fo long 
detained from a favorite fubjecl:, and one for which I fhall have fuch rare and 
valuable materials in my own pofTeffion. But what chiefly influences me is the 
profpecl: of obtaining fome one, in the fpace of a year, who, by a competent 
knowledge of foreign languages, will enable me to purfue my original defign 
with nearly as great facility as I mould poffefs for the inveftigation of Englifh 
literature. And I am now fully refolved, that nothing but a difappointment in 
my expected fupplies from Spain fhall prevent me from profecuting my original 
fcheme ; where, at any rate, fuccefs is more certain, if not more eafy." 

The difficulty that refulted from the want of a competent 



Difficulties in finding a Reader. 



reader was certainly a great one, and he felt it feverely. He 
talked with me much about it, but for a time there feemed no 
remedy. He went, therefore, courageoufly through feveral 
volumes of Spaniih with a perfon who underftood not a word 
of what he was reading. It was awkward, tedious work, — 
more difagreeable to the reader, probably, than it was to the 
liftener. But neither of them fhrunk from the tafk, which 
fometimes, notwithftanding its gravity and importance, feemed 
ridiculous to both. 10 

At laft he was fatisfied that his undertaking to write hiftory 
was certainly practicable, and that he could fubftantially make 
his ears do the work of his eyes. It was an important conclu- 
fion, and its date is, therefore, one of the turning points of his 
life. He came to it about the time he prepared the letter to 
Mr. Everett, and in confequence provided himfelf for a few 
months with a young reader of more accomplishments, who 
fubfequently became known in the world of letters, and was 
among thofe who paid a tribute of graceful verfe to the hifto- 
rian's memory. 11 

This, however, was only a temporary expedient, and he was 
defirous to have fomething which mould be permanent. It 
coft not a little time and labor to fit anybody for duties fo 
peculiar, and he had no time and labor to fpare, efpecially 
if the embarralTment mould recur as often as it had heretofore. 
Thinking, from my connection with Harvard College, where 
I was then at the head of the department of Modern Literature, 
that I might be acquainted with fome young man who, on 
completing his academic career, would be willing to become 
his fecretary for a considerable period, he addreffed himfelf to 



10 In a letter to me written in the fum- 
mer of 1827, when I happened to be on 
a journey to Niagara, he fays : " My ex- 
cellent reader and prefent fcribe reads to 
me Spanifh with a true Caftilian accent 
two hours a day, without underftanding a 
word of it. What do you think of this 
for the temperature of the dog-days ? and 
1 1 



which mould you rather be, the reader or 
the readee ? " In a letter ten years later 
— Dec. 20, 1837 — to his friend Mr. 
Bancroft, he fays, that among thofe read- 
ings by a perfon who did not know the 
language were feven quarto volumes in 
Spaniih. 

11 Mr. George Lunt. 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
Mr. 30. 



Change of read- 



82 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 30. 

Mr. James L. 
Englifh. 



Mr. Prefcott 
thorough in 
ftudies. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



me. I advifed with the inftructors in the four modern lan- 
guages, who knew the efpecial qualifications of their pupils 
better than I did, and a fortunate refult was foon reached. 
Mr. James L. Englifh, who was then a member of the College, 
accepted a propofition to ftudy his profeffion in the office of 
Mr. Prefcott, fenior, and of his fon-in-law, Mr. Dexter, who 
was then aflbciated with the elder Mr. Prefcott as a counfellor, 
and at the fame time to read and write for the fon five or fix 
hours every day. This arrangement did not, however, take 
effect until after Mr. Englifh was graduated, in 1827; and it 
continued, much to the fatisfa&ion of both parties, for four 
years. It was the happy beginning of a new order of things 
for the ftudies of the hiftorian, and one which, with different 
fecretaries or readers, he was able to keep up to the laft. 12 

During the interval of almoft a year, which immediately 
preceded the commencement of Mr. Englifh's fervices, nothing 
is more ftriking than the amount and thoroughnefs of Mr. 
Prefcott's ftudies. It in fad; was a broad bafis that he now 
began to lay, in defiance of all the difficulties that befet him, 
for a fuperftruclure which yet, as he clearly forefaw, could be 
erected only after a very long interval, if, indeed, he fhould 
ever be permitted to erecl: it. It was, too, a bafis laid in the 
moil deliberate manner, flowly and furely ; for, as he co-uld not 
now read at all himfelf, every page, as it was liftened to, had to 
be carefully confidered, and its contents carefully appropriated. 
Among the books thus read to him were Montefquieu's " Spirit 
of Laws," Enfield's " Hiftory of Philofophy," Smith's " Wealth 
of Nations," Hallam's "Middle Ages," Blackftone's "Commen- 
taries," Vol. I., Millar's " Englifh Government," the four con- 
cluding volumes of Gibbon, parts of Turner's " Hiftory of Eng- 
land," parts of Mofheim's " Ecclefiaftical Hiftory" and of John 



12 Mr. Prefcott's different readers and 
fecretaries were, as nearly as I can remem- 
ber and make out, — George R. M. With- 
ington, for a fhort period, which I cannot 
exactly determine; George Lunt, 1825 
-26; Hamilton Parker, 1826-27; James 



Lloyd Englifh, 1827-31 ; Henry Cheever 
Simonds, 1831-35; E. Dwight Williams, 
1835-40; George F. Ware, 1840-42; 
Edmund B. Otis, 1842-46; George F. 
Ware again, 1846-47; Robert Carter, 
1847-48; John Folter Kirk, 1848-59. 



Studies of a Year. 



Muller's " Univerfal Hiftory," Mills's " Hiftory of Chivalry," 
the Memoirs of Commines, Robertfon's " Charles the Fifth " 
and his " America," and Watfon's " Philip the Second." Be- 
sides all this, he liftened to tranflations of Plato's "Phasdo," of 
Epidtetus, of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and of Cice- 
ro's " Tufculan Queftions " and " Letters " ; and, finally, he 
went in the fame way through portions of Sifmondi's " Re- 
publiques Italiennes " in the original, as an experiment, and 
became perfuaded, from the facility with which he understood 
it when read at the rate of twenty-four pages an hour, that 
he mould meet with no abfolutely infurmountable obftacle in 
the profecution of any of his hiftorical plans. Everything, 
therefore, went according to his with, and feemed propitious ; 
but his eyes remained in a very bad ftate. He was often in 
a dark room, and never able to ufe them for any of the prac- 
tical purpofes of ftudy. 13 

Still, as always, his fpirits rofe with the occafion, and his 
courage proved equal to his fpirits. He had a large part of 
the Spanifh grammar read over to him, that he might feel 
quite fure-footed in the language, and then, confirming anew 
his determination to write the Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella, he pufhed vigoroufly forward with his inveftigations in 
that direction. 

. He read, or rather liftened to, Koch's " Revolutions de 
l'Europe"; Voltaire's " Effai fur les Mceurs"; Gibbon, fo far 
as the Vifigoths in Spain are concerned ; and Conde's Spanifh 



83 



Chap. VI. 

1826. 
JEt. 30. 



Studies in Span- 
ifh. 



Readings. 



*' He makes hardly a note about his 
opinion on the authors embraced in his 
manifold fludies this year, from want of 
fight to do it. But what he records about 
Robertfon and Watfon, brief as it is, is 
worth notice, becaufe thefe writers both 
come upon his chofen track. " Robert- 
fon's extenfive fubjecV' he fays, "is necef- 
farily deficient in connection ; but a lively 
intereft is kept up by a perpetual fucceffion 
of new difcoveries and brilliant adventures, 
feafoned with fagacious reflections, and en- 
riched with a clear and vigorous di&ion." 



In fome remarks concerning Charles V., 
thirty years later, he does Dr. Robertfon 
the homage of calling him "the illuftrious 
Scottifh hiftorian," but enters into no dif- 
cumon of his peculiar merits. Of Watfon, 
on the contrary, in his private notes of 
1827, he fays that he is "a meagre un- 
philofophical chronicler of the richeft 
period of Spanifh hiftory " ; an opinion 
fubftantially confirmed in the Preface to 
his own Philip II., in 1855, where a com- 
pliment is paid to Robertfon at Watfon's 
expenfe. 



8 4 



Chap. VI. 

1827. 
JEt. 30. 



Preparatory 
ftudies. 



Pradtical diffi- 
culties. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Arabs. As he approached his main fubjed: more nearly, he 
went through the reigns of feveral of the preceding and 
following Spanifh fovereigns in Ferreras's General Hiftory of 
Spain, as well as in Rabbe, Morales, and Bigland ; adding the 
whole of Gaillard's " Rivalite de la France et de FEfpagne," 
and of the Abbe Mignot's meagre " Hiftoire de Ferdinand et 
Ifabelle." The geography of the country he had earlier ftudied 
on minute maps, when his eyes had for a fhort time permitted 
fuch ufe of them, and he now endeavored to make himfelf 
familiar with the Spanifh people and their national character, 
by liftening to fuch travellers as Bourgoing and Townfend. 
Finally, he finimed this part of his preparation by going afrefh 
over the concluding portions of Mariana's eloquent Hiftory ; 
thus obtaining from fo many different fources, not only a fuffi- 
cient and more than fufficient mere, bafis for his own work, 
but from Mariana the beft general outline for it that exifting 
materials could furnifh. It is not eafy to fee how he could 
have been more thorough and careful, even if he had enjoyed 
the full ufe of his fight, nor how, with fuch an infirmity, he 
could deliberately have undertaken and carried out a courfe of 
merely preparatory ftudies fo ample and minute. 

But he perceived the peculiar embarraflments, as well as the 
great refources, of his fubjecl:, and endeavored to provide againft 
them by long confideration and reflection beforehand. In his 
Memoranda he fays : — 

" I muft not be too faftidious, nor too anxious to amafs every authority that 
can bear upon the fubjecl:. The materials that will naturally offer themfelves 
to me are abundant enough, in all confcience. Whatever I write will have the 
merit at leaft of novelty to an Englifh reader. In fuch parts of the fubjecl:, 
therefore, as have been well treated by French writers, I had better take 
them pretty clofely for my guides, without troubling myfelf to hunt more 
deeply, except only for corroborative authorities, which can be eafily done. It 
is fortunate that this fubjecl: is little known to Englifh readers, while many 
parts of it have been ably difcuffed by acceffible foreign writers, — fuch as 
Marina and Sempere for the Conftitution ; Llorente for the Inquifition ; the 
fixth volume of the Hiftorical Tranfa&ions of the Spanifh Academy for the in- 
fluence and many details of Ifabella's reign, &c. ; Flechier for the life of 
Ximenes ; Varillas for the foreign policy of Ferdinand ; Sifmondi for the Italian 



Viezv of his Subject, 



wars and for the general ftate of Italian and European politics in that age, while 
the reflections of this hiftorian pajjim may furniih me with many good hints in 
an inveftigation of the Spanifh hiftory and politics." 

This was the view he took of his fubject, as he fully con- 
fronted it for the firft time, and conlidered how, with fuch ufe 
of his eyes as he then had, he could beft addrefs himfelf to the 
neceffary examination of his authorities. But he now, and for 
fome time fubfequent, contemplated a fhorter work than the one 
he finally wrote, and a work of much lefs learned pretenfions. 
As, however, he advanced, he found that the moft minute 
investigations, fuch as he had above conlidered beyond his 
reach, would be both neceffary and agreeable. He began, 
therefore, very foon to examine all the original fources with 
painftaking perfeverance, and to compare them, not only with 
each other, but with the interpretations that had fubfequently 
been put upon them. He ftruck much more widely and 
boldly than he had intended or thought important. In fhort, 
he learned — and he learned it foon — that it is neceffary for 
a confcientious author to read everything upon the fubjecl: he 
means to difcufs ; the poor and bad books, as well as thofe 
upon which his reliance will ultimately be placed. He cannot 
otherwife feel ftrong or fafe. 

Mr. Prefcott had juft reached this point in his ftudies, when, 
in the autumn of 1827, Mr. Englifh became his reader and 
fecretary. The firft collection of books and manufcripts from 
Madrid had been received a little earlier. But they had not 
yet been ufed. They had come at a moft unlucky moment, 
when his eye was in a more than commonly fuffering ftate, and 
they prefented anything but a cheerful profpecl to him, as they 
lay unpacked and fpread out on the floor of his ftudy. As he 
faid long afterwards, " In my difabled condition, with my Tranf- 
atlantic treafures lying around me, I was like one pining from 
hunger in the midft of abundance/' I4 

But he went to work in earneft with his new fecretary. The 

T 4 Conqueft of Peru, (1857), Vol. I. p. xvi. 



85 



Chap. VI. 

1827. 
Mt. 31. 



Propofes a fhort- 
er work. 



Mr. Englifh be- 
comes his 
reader. 



Chap. VI. 

1827. 
Mt. 31. 

Room in which 
he worked. 



86 



How he worked, 



William Hick ling Prescoit. 



room in which they fat was an upper one in the back part of 
the fine old houfe in Bedford Street, retired and quiet, and 
every way well fitted for its purpofe. Mr. Englifh, in an in- 
terefting letter to me, thus truly defcribes it. 

" Two fides of the room," he fays, " were lined with books from floor 
to ceiling. On the eafterly fide was a green fcreen, which darkened that 
part of the room towards which he turned his face as he fat at his writing- 
table. On the wefterly fide was one window covered by feveral curtains 
of light-blue mullin, fo arranged that any one of them could be wholly or 
partially raifed, and thus temper the light exactly to the ability of his eye to 
bear it, as the Iky might happen to be bright or cloudy, or his eye more or 
lefs fenfitive. In the centre of the room flood his writing-table, at which 
he fat in a rocking-chair with his back towards the curtained window, and 
fometimes with a green made over his eyes. When we had a fire, he ufed 
only coke in the grate, as giving out no flame, and he frequently placed a 
fcreen between himfelf and the grate to keep off the glare of the embers. 
At the northwefterly corner of the room was the only window not partly 
or wholly darkened. It was fet high up in the wall, and under it was my 
chair. I was thus brought a fhort diftance from his left fide, and rather 
behind him, — as a failor would fay, on his quarter. In this pofition I read 
aloud to him regularly every day, from ten o'clock in the forenoon to two 
in the afternoon, and from about fix in the evening to eight." 

They began by reading portions of Llorente's " Hiftoire de 
rinquifition " ; but their firft ferious attack was on the Chroni- 
cles of Andres Bernaldez, not then printed, but obtained by 
him in manufcript from Madrid, — a gofliping, amufing book, 
whofe accounts extend from 1488 to 151 3, and are particularly 
important for the Moorifh wars and the life of Columbus. But 
the young fecretary found it very hard reading. 

"A huge parchment-covered manufcript," he calls Bernaldez, "my old ene- 
my ; from whofe pages I read and reread fo many hours that I fhall never forget 
him. Mr. Prefcott confidered the book a great acquifition, and would fit for 
hours hearing me read it in the Spanifh, — at firft with great difficulty and until 
I got familiar with the chirography. How he could underftand me at firft, 
as I blundered along, I could not conceive. If he was annoyed, — as he 
well might be, — he never betrayed his feelings to me. 

" He feemed fully confcious of the difficulty of the talk before him, but 
refolutely determined to accomplifh it, if human patience and perfeverance 
could do fo. As I read any paffages which he wifhed to imprefs on his 
memory, he would fay, ' Mark that,' — that is, draw parallel lines in the 
margin with a pencil againft it. He ufed alfo to take a note or memorandum 



Modes of Work. 



of anything he wifhed particularly to remember, with a reference to it. His 
writing apparatus always lay open before him on the table, and he ufually 
fat with his ivory ftyle in hand, ready to make his notes of reference.^ Thefe 
notes I afterwards copied out in a very large round hand for his future ufe, 
and, when he began actually to write the hiftory, would read them over and 
verify the reference by the original authority, if he required it. I think, 
however, he did not very often find it neceftary to refer to the book, as 
he feemed to have cultivated his memory to a very high degree, and had, 
befides, a habit of reflecting upon and arranging in his mind, or c digefting,' 
as he phrafed it, the morning's reading while fitting alone afterwards in his 
ftudy. A graphic phrafe it was, too, confidering that he took in through 
his ears I don't know how many pages at a four hours' feilion of fteady 
reading. The wonder was, how he could find time to 4 digeft ' fuch a 
load between the feffions. But thus he fixed the fubftance of what had 
been read to him in his mind, and imprefTed the refults of the forenoon's 
work on his memory. 

" When I firft began to read to Mr. Prefcott, his eye was in a very 
fenfitive ftate, and he did not attempt to ufe it at all. After fome months, 
however, it got ftronger, and he would fit at the curtained window, with a 
volume open upon a frame on a ftand, and read himfelf, marking paflages as 
he went along. While fo reading, he would frequently raife or lower, 
wholly or partially, one or more of the blue curtains. Each of them had 
its feparate cord, which he knew as well as a failor knows his ropes. Every 
little white cloud that palled acrofs the fky required a change in the ar- 
rangement of thefe curtains, fo fenfitive was his eye to a variation of light 
imperceptible to me. But it was only a portion of the time that he could 
do this. His eye would give way, or he would feel fymptoms of return- 
ing trouble, and then, for weeks together, he would be compelled to take 
his old feat in the rocking-chair, and return to the flow procefs of liften- 
ing and marking paflages, and having his notes and memoranda read over 
to him as at firft." 

How found and practical his general views were can be feen 
from his plan of work at this moment, when he had deter- 
mined what he would do, but did not think himfelf nearly 
ready even to begin the actual compofition of the Hiftory itfelf. 
In October, 1828, when they had been at work for a year 
with this preparatory reading, but during which his private 
memoranda, owing to the ftate of his eye, had been very 
meagre, he fays : — 

" By the intermixture of reading for a given chapter and then writing for it, 

J 5 His peculiar writing apparatus, al- fcribed; It was the nodtograph, which 
ready alluded to, will be prefently de- he had obtained in England. 



7 



Chap. VI. 

1827. 
JEt. 31. 

How notes were 
made. 



How he worked 
the notes up. 



Care of his eye. 



Preparation for 
writing. 



88 



Chap. VI. 

1828. 
Mt. 32. 



Patience. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



I fhall be able, with the relief which this alternate occupation will give my 
eyes, to accomplifh a good deal with them, I truft. After I have finifhed 
Bernaldez's manufcript and the few remaining pages of Ferreras, and looked 
through the ' Modern Univerfal Hiftory ' from the acceffion of the houfe of 
Traftamara to the end of the reigns of the Catholic kings, and looked into 
Marina's " Theory of the Cortes," which will fcarcely require more than a 
fortnight, I fhall be prepared to begin to read for my firft chapter." 



He added to this a fyllabus of what, from the point of view 
at which he then ftood, he thought might be the arrangement 
of his materials for the firft two chapters of his work ; noting 
the length of time he might need to prepare himfelf to begin 
to write, and afterwards the time necelTary to complete them. 
That he was willing to be patient is clear from the fact that 
he allowed two hundred and fifty-fix days, or eight months 
and a half, to this preparatory reading, although he had already 
been two years, more or lefs, on the work ; and that he was 
not to be difcouraged by flownefs of actual progrefs is equally 
clear, for, although it was above fourteen months before he 
finifhed this part of his talk, yet at the end of that time his 
courage and hopes were as high as ever. 





CHAPTER VII. 

1829-1837. 

Death of his Daughter. — Inquiries into the Truth of the Chriftian Religion. 
— Refults. — Examines the Hiftory of the Spanifh Arabs. — Reviews 
Irving s Granada. — Studies for his Work on Ferdinand and Isabella. — 
Begins to write it. — Regard for Mably and Clemencin. — Progrefs of 
his Work. — At Pepper ell. — At Nahant. — Finifhes the iC Hiftory of 
Ferdinand and Ifabella." 

H ^l^^ pE long delay referred to in the laft chapter 
was in part owing to a fevere forrow which 
fell on him in the winter of 1828-9, anc ^ 
flopped him in mid-career. On the ift of 
February, the eldeft of his two children died. 
It was a daughter, born on the 23d of Sep- 
tember, 1824, and therefore four years and four or live months 
old, — a charming, gentle child of much promife, who had 
been named after her grandmother, Catharine Hickling. He 
had doted on her. His mother faid moft truly, writing to 
Mrs. Ticknor in 1825 : "It is a very nice little girl, and 
William is one of the happieft fathers you ever faw. All the 
time he can fpare from Italian and Spanifh ftudies is devoted 
to this little pet." Mr. Englifh remembers well how (he ufed 
to be permitted to come into the ftudy, and interrupt whatever 
work was going on there, much to his own fatisfaclion as well 
as to the father's, for her engaging ways had won the fecretary's 
12 




89 



Chap. VII. 

1829. 
JEt. 32. 

Death of his 
eldeft child. 



9o 



Chap. VII. 

1829. 
JEt. 32. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



His thoughts on 
it. 



Inquiry into the 
truth of Chrif- 
tianity. 



love too. The fhock of her death was very great, and was, 
befides, fomewhat fudden. I have feldom feen forrow more 
deep ; and, what was remarkable, the grandfather and grand- 
mother were fo much overcome by it as to need the confolation 
they would otherwife have gladly given. It was, indeed, a 
much diftrefled houfe. 1 

But the father wrought out confolation for himfelf in his 
own way. A fortnight after the death of his child he re- 
cords : — 

"February 15^, 1829. — The death of my deareft daughter on the firft day 
of this month having made it impoflible for me at prefent to refume the talk of 
compofition, I have been naturally led to more ferious reflection than ufual, and 
have occupied myfelf with reviewing the grounds of the deciiion which I made 
in 1 8 19 in favor of the evidences of the Chriftian revelation. I have endeavored 
and mail endeavor to profecute this examination with perfect impartiality, and to 
guard againft the prefent ftate of my feelings influencing my mind any further 
than by leading it to give to the fubjecl: a more ferious attention. And, fo far, 
fuch influence muft be falutary and reafonable, and far more defirable than any 
counter influence which might be exerted by any engroffing occupation with the 
cares and diflipation of the world. So far, I believe, I have conducted the matter 
with fober impartiality." 

What he did on this fubjecl:, as on all others, he did thor- 
oughly and carefully. His fecretary read to him the principal 
books which it was then confidered important to go through 
when making a fair examination of the fupernatural claims of 
Chriftianity. Among them, on the one fide, were Hume's 
Eflays, and efpecially the one on Miracles ; Gibbon's fifteenth 
chapter, and parts of the fixteenth ; Middleton's "Free Inquiry," 
which, whatever were its author's real opinions, leans towards 
unbelief; and Soame Jenyns's fomewhat eafy difcuffion of the 
Evidences, which is yet not wanting in hidden fkill and acute- 
nefs. On the other hand, he took Watfon's "Apology "; Brown's 
" Lectures," fo far as they are an amplification of his admirably 



1 In a letter dated June 30, 1844, to 
Don Pafcual de Gayangos, who had juft 
fuffered from the lofs of a young child, 
Mr. Prefcott fays, "A fimilar calamity be- 
fell me fome years fince. It was my favor- 
ite child, taken away at the age of four, 



when all the lovelinefs and vivacity of the 
character is opening upon us. I never can 
fuffer again as I then did. It was my firft 
heavy forrow; and I fuppofe we cannot 
feel twice fo bitterly.'* 



Truth of Christianity. 



9 


I 


Chap 


VII. 


18 
JEt. 


29. 
32. 



condenfed "EiTay on Caufe and Effect" ; feveral of Waterland's 
treatifes; Butler's "Analogy" and Paley's "Evidences," with 
the portions of Lardner needful to explain and illuftrate them. 
The laft three works he valued more than all the others. But 
I think he relied mainly upon a careful reading of the four 
Gofpels, and an efpecial inquiry into each one of the Saviour's 
miracles, as related by each of the Evangelifts. This invefti- 
gation he made with his father's affiftance, and, when it was 
over, he faid that he confidered fuch an examination, made 
with an old and learned lawyer, was a fufficient pledge for the 
feverity of his fcrutiny. He might have added, that it was the 
fafer, becaufe the perfon who helped him in making it was not 
only a man of uncommon fairnefs of mind, perfpicacity, and 
wifdom, but one who was very cautious, and, on all matters of 
evidence, had a tendency to fcepticifm rather than credulity. 

The conclufions at which he arrived were, that the narra- Refuits. 
tives of the Gofpels were authentic ; that, after fo careful an 
examination of them, he ought not to permit his mind to be 
difturbed on the fame queftion again, unlefs he mould be able 
to make an equally faithful revifion of the whole fubjecl: ; and 
that, even if Chriftianity were not a divine revelation, no fyftem 
of morals was fo likely to fit him for happinefs here and here- 
after. But he did not find in the Gofpels, or in any part of 
the New Teftament, the doctrines commonly accounted ortho- 
dox, and he deliberately recorded his rejection of them. On 
one minor point, too, he was very explicit. He declared his 
purpofe to avoid all habits of levity on religious topics. And 
to this purpofe, I believe, he adhered rigoroufly through life. 
At leaft, I am fatisfied that I never heard him ufe light expref- 
fions or allufions of any kind when fpeaking of Chriftianity, or 
when referring to the Scriptures. His mind, in fad:, was rev- 
erential in its very nature, and fo was his father's. 2 



z It was noticed by one of the mem- 
bers of his Club, — Dr. John Ware, whofe 
judgment and acutenefs render his obfer- 
vation important, — that Mr. Prefcott was 
much interefted whenever the fubjecl: of 



religion, or anything that claimed to be 
connected with the fpiritual world, came 
up in the familiar difcumons of their meet- 
ings. " He was always defirous," fays 
Dr. Ware, " to hear fomething about mag- 



9 2 



Chap. VII. 

1829. 
JEt. 32. 

Writes for th< 
North Ameri- 
can Review. 



Examination of 
Conde's Hif- 
tory. 



/ 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



After a few weeks devoted to thefe inquiries, he refumed 
his accuftomed ftudies. At the moment when they had been 
broken off, he was not employed regularly on his Hiftory. He 
had already ftepped afide to write an article for the " North 
American Review." During eight years he had been in the 
habit occafionally of contributing what he fometimes called 
" his peppercorn " to that well-eftablifhed and refpectable peri- 
odical ; regarding his contributions as an exercife in writing 
which could not fail to be ufeful to him. His firft experiments 
of this fort, faving always the youthful failure already recorded, 
were, I fuppofe, two fhort articles, in 1821, on Sprague's beau- 
tiful prize " Ode to Shakefpeare," and on Byron's Letter upon 
Pope. Thefe had been followed, with the regularity that 
marked almoft everything he did, by a fingle article on fome 
literary fubject every fucceeding year. It was an excellent 
difcipline for him as a beginner, and although, from the flow- 
nefs with which he neceffarily worked, it took much time, he 
never, I think, ferioufly regretted the facrifice it implied. 

But now, being engroffed with his inquiries into early 
Spanifh hiftory, he preferred to take a fubjecl immediately 
connected with them. He wrote, therefore, an article on 
Conde's "Hiftory of the Arabs in Spain," comprifing a general 
view of the Arabian character and civilization. It was pre- 
pared with great care. He gave much time to previous reading 
and ftudy on the fubject, — I do not know exactly how much, 
but certainly three months, probably four, — and it was not till 
nearly feven months after he firft began to collect materials for 
the article that it was completed ; 3 from which, however, mould 



netifm, when that was in vogue, and still 
more about fpiritual manifeftations, when 
they came in fafhion." This falls in with 
my own recollections and impreffions. He 
went once certainly, and I think more 
than once, to witnefs the exhibitions of a 
medium. But no effeft was produced on 
his mind. He was always flow of belief. 
His hiflorical judgments prove this, and 
what he faw of " the manifeftations," as 



they were called, relied on nothing like 
the evidence he was accuftomed to require. 
Befides, they offended the fentiment of rev- 
erence, which, as I have faid, was ftrong 
in his whole nature. 

3 The manufcript notes for this article, 
now before me, are extraordinarily elabo- 
rate and minute. They fill two hundred 
and forty-four large foolfcap pages, and 
have an index to them. 



Irving s Conquest of Granada, 



be deducted the forrowful period of feveral weeks that preceded 
and followed his little daughter's death. But, after all, he did 
not fend it to the periodical publication for which it had been 
written. He found, perhaps, that it was too important for his 
own ulterior purpofes ; certainly, that it was not fitted for the 
more popular tone of fuch a work as the " North American/' 
Subftituting for it, therefore, a pleafant article on Irving's 
" Conqueft of Granada," which had coft him much lefs labor, 
but which was quite as interesting, he laid the one on Conde 
quietly afide, and finally, with fome modifications, ufed it as 
the eighth chapter in the Firft Part of his Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella, where it ftands now, an admirable foreground to the 
brilliant picture of the fiege and fall of Granada. 4 

It was June, 1829, before he returned to his regular read- 
ings preparatory to the actual compofition of Ferdinand and 
Isabella. In his more leifure hours, generally in the evening, 
he went over feveral works, half biography, half hiftory, — fuch 
as Mifs Aikin's "Queen Elizabeth," Voltaire's "Charles XII.," 
and Rofcoe's "Lorenzo de' Medici" and his "Leo X.," — to fee if 
he could glean from them any ideas for the general management 
of his fubjed:; while, for eafy, finifhed narrative, he liftened to 
large portions of Barante's " Dues de Bourgogne," and ftudied 
with fome care Thierry, — the marvellous, blind Thierry, — 
for whom he always felt a ftrong fympathy in confequence of 
their common misfortune, and to whofe manner of treating 
hiftory with a free citation of the old ballads and chronicles 
he was much inclined. From all this, perhaps, he gained 
little, except warnings what to avoid. At the fame time, 
however, that he was doing it, he gave his forenoons to the 
direct, fevere ftudy of his fubject. He advanced flowly, to be 
fure ; for his eyes were in a very bad ftate, and he was obliged 
to depend entirely on his reader when going through even 



4 Mr. Bancroft, in a review of Ferdi- 
nand and Ifabella, felects this chapter as a 
happy illuilration of the faithful indultry 
with which the work is written. " Let 
any American fcholar," he fays, " turn, for 



inflance, to the chapter on the literature of 
the Saracens, and afk himfelf, how long a 
period would be required to prepare for 
writing it." — Democratic Review, (i 838,) 
Vol. IT. p. 162. 



93 



Chap. VII. 

1829. 
JEt. 33. 



Review of Ir 
ing's Conqueft 
of Granada. 



General read- 
ing. 



94 



Chap. VII. 
1829. 

Special ftudies. 



Begins to write. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



fueh important works as thofe of Marina and Sempere on the 
Cortes, and Palencia's Chronicle of the time of Henry IV. 
Still he got on, and, in the courfe of the fummer, prepared an 
elaborate fynopfis of the chief events to be difcuffed in his 
contemplated hiftory; all chronologically arranged from 1454, 
when John II., Ifabella's father, died, to 1516, the date of 
Ferdinand's death, which, of courfe, would clofe the work. 

From this fynopfis, and efpecially from the eftimate it in- 
volved of the proportions of its different divifions, he, indeed, 
fometimes varied, as his ample materials were unrolled before 
him. But the whole plan, as he then digefted it, fhows that 
he had mattered the outline of his fubject, and comprehended 
juftly the relations and combinations of its various parts. He 
thought, however, that he could bring it all into two moderate 
volumes in octavo. In this he was miftaken. The work, from 
his thorough and faithful treatment of it, grew under his 
hands, and the world is not forry that at laft it was extended 
to three. 

On the 6th of October, 1829, — three years and a half from 
the time when he had felected his fubject, and begun to work 
upon it, — he finally broke ground with its actual compofition. 
He had then been three months reading and taking notes 
exclufively for the firft chapter. It was a month before that 
chapter was finifhed, and afterwards it was all rewritten. 
Two months more brought him to the end of the third 
chapter ; and, although the fpace filled by the three fo greatly 
overran the eftimate in his fynopfis as to alarm him, he ftill 
felt that he had made good progrefs, and took courage. He 
was, in fact, going on at a rate which would make his Hiftory 
fill five volumes, and yet it was long before he gave up the 
ftruggle to keep it down to two. Similar trouble he encoun- 
tered all the way through his work. He was constantly over- 
running his own calculations, and unreafonably diftatisfied with 
himfelf for his miftakes and bad reckoning. 

Two things are noteworthy at this ftage of his progrefs, 
becaufe one of them influenced the whole of his fubfequent 



Use of Mably. 



95 



Chap. VII. 
1829. 

^T. 33. 



life as an hiftorian, and the other did much towards giving 
a direction and tone to his difcuiiion of the characters and 
reign of Ferdinand and Ifabella. 

The firft is his increafed regard for Mably as a counfellor 
and guide. In January, 1830, after looking afrefh through 
fome of Mably's works, there occurs the following notice of j 
him, chiefly with reference to his treatife " Sur l'Etude de £ tud . e de vhk- 
l'Hiftoire," which, as we have already noticed, had engaged l Mabiy. 
his careful attention five years earlier : 5 " He takes wide views, 
and his politics are characterized by directnefs and good faith. 
I have marked occafionally paftages in the portions I have 
looked over which will be worth recurring to. I like particu- 
larly his notion of the neceffity of giving an intereft as well as 
utility to hiftory, by letting events tend to fome obvious point 
or moral ; in fhort, by paying fuch attention to the develop- 
ment of events tending to this leading refult, as one would in 
the conftruction of a romance or a drama." A few days after- 
wards he records the way in which he propofes to apply this 
principle to the "Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella. " With 
what fuccefs he fubfequently carried it out in his " Conqueft of 
Mexico" need not be told. In each inftance he was aware of 
the direction his work was taking, and cites Mably as the au- 
thority for it. The fame purpofe is plain in the " Conqueft 
of Peru," although the conditions of the cafe did not permit 
it to be equally applicable. 6 



5 He calls Mably " a perfpicuous, fe- 
vere, fhrewd, and fenfible writer, full of 
thought, and of fuch thoughts as fet the 
reader upon thinking for himfelf." 

6 In 1 841, when he was occupied with 
the Conqueft of Mexico, he fays, "Have 
read, for the tenth time, « Mably sur l'E- 
tude de 1'Hiftoire,' full of admirable reflec- 
tions and hints. Pity that his love of the 
ancients made him high gravel-blind to the 
merits of the moderns." This treatife, 
which Mr. Prefcott ftudied with fuch care 
and perfeverance, was written by Mably, 
as a part of the courfe of inftruttion ar- 
ranged by Condillac, Mably's kinfman, for 
the ufe of the heir to the dukedom of 



Parma, and it was printed in 1775. Ma- 
bly was, no doubt, often extravagant and 
unfound in his opinions, and is now little 
regarded. How the author of Ferdinand 
and Ifabella hit upon a work lb generally 
overlooked, I do not know, except that 
nothing feemed to efcape him that could 
be made to ferve his purpofe. On another 
occafion, when fpeaking of it, he implies 
that its precepts may not be applicable to 
political hiftories generally, which often 
require a treatment more philofophical. 
But that he confulted it much when writ- 
ing the Ferdinand and Ifabella, and the 
Conqueft of Mexico, is not doubtful. 



9 6 



Chap. VIJ. 
1829. 

^T. 33. 

Elogio de Ifabel 
por Clemencin 



State of his 
fight. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



The other circumftance to which I referred, as worthy of 
notice at this time, is Mr. Prefcott's increafed and increafing 
fenfe of the importance of what Don Diego Clemencin had done 
in his " Elogio de la Reina Dona Ifabel," for the life of that 
great fovereign. This remarkable work, which, in an imper- 
fect outline, its author had read to the Spanifh Academy of 
Hiftory in 1807, he afterwards enlarged and enriched, until, 
when it was publifhed in 1821, it filled the whole of the 
fixth ample volume of the Memoirs of that learned body. 
Mr. Prefcott, above a year earlier, had confulted it, and placed 
it among the books to be carefully ftudied, but now he ufed it 
conftantly. Later, he faid it was " a moft rich repofitory of 
unpublished facts, to be diligently ftudied by me at every 
paufing point in my hiftory/' And in a note at the end of 
his fixth chapter he pronounces it to be a work of ineftimable 
fervice to the hiftorian. Thefe tributes to the modeft, faith- 
ful learning of the Secretary of the Spanifh Academy of 
Hiftory, who was afterwards its Director, are alike creditable 
to him who offered them, and to Don Diego de Clemencin, 
who was then no longer among the living, and to whom they 
could not, therefore, be offered in flattery. 

But while the hiftorian of Ferdinand and Ifabella valued 
Mably and Clemencin as truftworthy guides, he read every- 
thing, and judged and decided for himfelf concerning every- 
thing, as he went on. His progrefs, indeed, was on thefe and 
on all accounts flow. His eye at this period was not in a con- 
dition to enable him to ufe it except with the greateft caution. 
He fometimes felt obliged to confider the contingency of lofing 
the ufe of it altogether, and had the courage to determine, even 
in that event, to go on with his Hiftory. How patient he muft 
have been, we may judge from the fact, that, in fixteen months, 
he was not able to accomplish more than three hundred pages. 
But neither then, nor at any time afterwards, was he difheartened 
by the difficulties he encountered. On the contrary, although 
progrefs — perceptible progrefs — was very important to his 
happinefs, he was content to have it very flow. Sometimes, 



Progress and Difficulties. 



however, he went on more eafily, and then he was much en- 
couraged. In the fummer of 1832, when he had been very 
induftrious for two months, he wrote to me, " I have difpofed 
of three chapters of my work, which is pretty good hammer- 
ing for a Cyclops. " Such intervals of freer labor gave him a 
great impulfe. He enjoyed his own induftry and fuccefs, and 
his original good fpirits did the reft. 

As he advanced, his fubjecl: cleared up before him, and he 
arranged it at laft in two nearly equal divifions ; the firft illuf- 
trating more particularly the domeftic policy of the fovereigns, 
and bringing Ifabella into the foreground ; and the fecond 
making their foreign policy and the influence and management 
of Ferdinand more prominent. In each he felt more and 
more the importance of giving intereft to his work by pre- 
ferving for it a character of unity, and keeping in view fome 
pervading moral purpofe. One thing, however, difappointed 
him. He perceived certainly that it muft be extended to 
three volumes. This he regretted. But he refolved that in no 
event would he exceed this eftimate, and he was happily able 
to keep his refolution, although it coft him much felf-denial 
to do it. He was conftantly exceeding his allowance of 
fpace, and as conftantly condenfing and abridging his work 
afterwards, fo as to come within it. To this part of his labor 
he gave full two years. It was a long time ; but, as he ad- 
vanced with a ftep affured by experience, his progrefs became 
at leaft more even and eafy, if not fafter. 

The early part of the fummer of 1835, which he palled at 
Pepperell, was peculiarly agreeable and happy. He felt that 
his work was at laft completely within his control, and was 
approaching its termination. He even began to be impatient, 
which he had never been before. 

In a pleafant letter to his friend Mr. Bancroft, dated Pep- 
perell, June 17, 1835, he fays : — 

" I find the country, as ufual, favorable to the hiftoric Mufe. I am fo near 
the term of my labors, that, if I were to remain here fix months longer, I lhould 
be eady to launch my cock-boat, or rather gondola, — for it is a heavy three- 

13 



97 



Chap. VII. 

1832. 
JEt. 36. 



General views 
of his fubjedl. 



Letter to Mr. 
Buncror'r. 



9 8 



Chap. VII. 

1835- 
JEt. 39. 



Happinefs in la- 
bor. 



Views of life. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



volume affair, — into the world. A winter's campaigning in the metropolis, 
however, will throw me back, I fuppofe, fix months further. I have little more 
to do than bury and write the epitaphs of the Great Captain, Ximenes, and 
Ferdinand. Columbus and Ifabella are already fent to their account. So my 
prefent occupation feems to be that of a fexton, and I begin to weary of it." 7 

A month later he went, as ufual, to the fea-fhore for the hot 
feafon. But, before he left the fpot always fo dear to him, 
he recorded the following characleriftic reflections and refo- 
lutions : — 

"July 12th, 1835. — In three days, the 15th, we leave Pepperell, having been 
here nearly ten weeks. We found the country in its barren fpring, and leave it 
in the prime drefs of fummer. I have enjoyed the time, and may look back on 
it with fome fatisfaction, for I have not miffpent it, as the record will mow. 

" On the whole, there is no happinefs fo great as that of a permanent and 
lively intereft in fome intellectual labor. I, at leaft, could never be tolerably 
contented without it. When, therefore, I get fo abforbed by pleafures — 
particularly exciting pleafures — as to feel apathy, in any degree, in my literary 
purfuits, juft in that degree I am lefs happy. No other enjoyment can com- 
penfate, or approach to, the fteady fatisfa&ion and conftantly increafing intereft 
of active literary labor, — the fubjecl: of meditation when I am out of my 
ftudy, of diligent ftimulating activity within, — to fay nothing of the com- 
fortable confcioufnefs of directing my powers in fome channel worthy of 
them, and of contributing fomething to the ftock of ufeful knowledge in the 
world. As this muft be my principal material for happinefs, I fhould cultivate 
thofe habits and amufements moft congenial with it, and thefe will be the quiet 
domeftic duties — which will alfo be my greateft pleafures — and temperate ibcial 
enjoyments, not too frequent and without excefs ; for the excefs of to-day will 
be a draft on health and fpirits to-morrow. Above all, obferve if my intereft be 
weakened in any degree in my purfuits. If fo, be fure I am purfuing a wrong 
courfe fomewhere, — wrong even in an Epicurean fenfe for my happinefs, — 
and reform it at once. 

"With thefe occupations and temperate amufement, feek to do fome good to 
fociety by an intereft in obvioufly ufeful and benevolent objects. Preferve a 
calm, philofophical, elevated way of thinking on all fubje&s connected with the 
action of life. Think more ferioufly of the confequences of conduct. Cherifh 
devotional feelings of reliance on the Deity. Difcard a habit of fneering or 



7 The mother of the future hiftorian 
and ftatefman was an early friend of the 
elder Mrs. Prefcott, and the attachment of 
the parents was betimes transferred to the 
children. From the period of Mr. Ban- 
croft's return home, after feveral years fpent 
in Europe, where his academic courfe was 



completed, this attachment was cemented 
by conftant intercourfe and intimacy with 
the Prefcott family, and was never broken 
until it was broken by death. Some allu- 
fions to this friendfhip have already been 
made. More will be found hereafter. 



Life at Nahant. 



99 



1835. 

JEt. 39. 



At Nahant. 



fcepticifm. Do not attempt impoflibilities, or, in other words, to arrive at Chap. VII. 
certainty [as if] on queftions of hiftoric evidence ; but be content that there is 
evidence enough to influence a wife man in the courfe of his conduct, — enough 
to produce an aflent, if not a mathematical demonftration to his mind, — and 
that the great laws for our moral government are laid down with undeniable, 
unimpeachable truth." 

A week after the date of thefe laft reflections, he was quietly 
eftabliihed at Nahant, having remained, as ufual, two or three 
days in Bofton to look after affairs that could not be attended 
to in the country. But he always difliked thefe periodical 
changes and removals. They broke up his habits, and made 
a return to his regular occupations more or lefs difficult and 
unfatisfaclory. On this occafion, coming from the tranquil- 
lizing influences of Pepperell, where he had been more than 
commonly induftrious and happy, he makes an amufing impatience. 
record of a fit of low fpirits and impatience, which is worth 
notice, becaufe it is the only one to be found in all his memo- 
randa : — 

" July 19th. — Moved to Nahant yefterday. A molt confumed fit of vapors. 
The place looks dreary enough after the green fields of Pepperell. Don't like 
j the air as well either, — too chilly, — find I bear and like hot weather better 
than I ufed to. Begin to ftudy, — that is the beft way of reftoring equanimity. 
Be careful of my eyes at firft, till accommodated to the glare. Hope I fhall find 
this good working ground, — have generally found it fo. This ink is too pale 
to write further. Everything goes wrong here." 

But he had a good feafon for work at Nahant, after all. He 
wrote there, not only the troublefome account of the Conqueft 
of Navarre, but the brilliant chapters on the deaths of Gon- 
falvo de Cordova and Ferdinand, leaving only the adminiftra- 
tion and fall of Cardinal Ximenes for a dignified clofe to the 
whole narrative part of the hiftory, and thus giving a fort of 
tragical denoue?7ient to it, fuch as he defired. This he completed 
in Bofton, about the middle of November. 

A chapter to review the whole of his fubjecl:, and point it Di 
with its appropriate moral, was, however, ftill wanted. It was 
a difficult tafk, and he knew it ; for, among other things, it 
involved a general and careful examination of the entire legif- 



fficult conclu- 
fion. 



IOO 



Chap. VII. 

1836. 
JEt. 39. 



Finifhes " Ferdi- 
nand and Ifa- 
bella." 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



lation of a period in which great changes had taken place, and 
permanent reforms had been introduced. He allowed five 
months for it. It took above feven, but it is an admirable part 
of his work, and worth all the time and labor it coft him. 

At laft, on the 25th of June, 1836, he finifhed the conclud- 
ing note of the concluding chapter to the " Hiftory of Ferdi- 
nand and Ifabella." Reckoning from the time when he wrote 
the firft page, or from a period a little earlier, when he pre- 
pared a review of Conde on the Spanifh Arabs, which he 
fubfequently made a chapter in his work, the whole had been 
on his hands a little more than feven years and a half; and, 
deducting nine months for illnefs and literary occupations not 
connected with his Hiftory, he made out that he had written, 
during that time, at the rate of two hundred and thirty-four 
printed pages a year. But he had read and labored on the 
fubject much in the two or three years that preceded the 
beginning of its abfolute compofition, and another year of 
corrections in the proof-iheets followed before it was fairly 
delivered to the world at Chriftmas, 1837. He was, therefore, 
exact, even after making all the deductions that can belong to 
the cafe, when, in his general eftimate, he faid that he had 
given to the work ten of the beft years of his life. 




IOI 



*->" 








CHAPTER VIII. 

1837-1838. 

Doubts about publifhing the "Hiftory of Ferdinand and Isabella." — i<Wr 
Copies printed as it was written. — Opinions of Friends. — The Author s 
own Opinion of his Work. — Publifhes it. — His Letters about it. — Its 
Succefs. — Its Publication in London. — Reviews of it in the United 
States and in Europe. 



|N^G34g^ TRANGE as it may feem, it is neverthelefs Chap. VIII. 

true, that after thefe ten years of labor on the j 1837. 

Ferdinand and Ifabella, and with the full hap- JEt. 40. 

pinefs he felt on completing that work, Mr. 

Prefcott yet hefitated at laft whether he mould 

publifh it or not. As early as 1833, and from 
that time forward, while the compofition was going on, he had 
caufed four copies of it to be printed in large type on one fide ^J-^" 
only of the leaf. For this he had two reafons. If he mould 
determine to publifh the work in London, he could fend a 
fair, plain copy to be printed from ; — and, at any rate, from 
fuch a copy he might himfelf, whenever his eye could endure 
the tafk, revife the whole perfonally, making on the blank pages 
fuch corrections and alterations as he might find defirable. 
This tafk was already accomplished. He had gone over the 
whole, a little at a time, with care. Some portions he had 
rewritten. The first chapter he wrote out three times, and 
printed it twice, before it was finally put in ftereotype, and ad- 
jufted to its place as it now ftands. 




printed pri- 
vately. 



102 



Chap. VIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 40. 

Doubts about 
publishing. 



Note of Mr. 
Jared Sparks 



Note of Mr. J, 
Pickering. 



Corrections of 
Mr. W. H. 
Gardiner. 



William Hick ling Prescott 



Still he hefitated. He confulted with his father, as he 
always did when he doubted in relation to matters of con- 
fequence. His father not only advifed the publication, but told 
him that " the man who writes a book which he is afraid to 
publiih is a coward." This ftirred the blood of his grand- 
father in his veins, and decided him. 1 

He had, however, the concurrent teftimony of judicious and 
faithful friends. Mr. Sparks, the hiftorian, in a note dated 
February 24th, 1837, fays: "I have read feveral chapters, 
and am reading more. The book will be fuccefsful, — bought, 
read, and praifed." And Mr. Pickering, the modeft, learned, 
philofophical philologift, to whom he fubmitted it a little 
later, fent him more decifive encouragement under date of 
May 1 ft. 

My dear Sir, 
Being uninterrupted laft evening, I had an opportunity to finifh the few pages 
that remained of your work, and I now return the volumes with many thanks. 
I cannot, however, take leave of them without again expreffing the high fatif- 
faftion I feel that our country mould have produced fuch a work, — a work 
which, unlefs I am much miftaken, will live as long as any one produced by 
your contemporaries either here or in England. 
I am, my dear fir, with the warmeft regard, 

Very truly yours, 

John Pickering. 

His friend Mr. Gardiner had already gone over the whole of 
the three volumes with his accuftomed faithfulnefs, and with a 
critical judgment which few polTefs. He had fuggefted an 
important alteration in the arrangement of fome of the early 
chapters, which was gladly adopted, and had offered minor 
corrections and verbal criticifm of all forts, with the freedom 
which their old friendlhip demanded, but a considerable part 
of which were, with the fame freedom, rejected ; the author 
maintaining, as he always did, a perfect independence of judg- 
ment in all fuch matters. 

How he himfelf looked upon his ten years' labor may be 

1 Grifwold's Profe Writers of America, 1847, p. 372. 



The Author s own Opinion. 



feen by the following extracts from his Memoranda, before he 
palled the final, fatal bourn of the prefs. After giving fome 
account of his flow progrefs and its caufes, he fays, under date 
of June 26th, 1836, when he had recorded the abfolute com- 
pletion of the Hiftory : — 

" Purfuing the work in this quiet, leifurely way, without over-exertion or 
fatigue, or any fenfe of obligation to complete it in a given time, I have found 
it a continual fource of pleafure. It has furnifhed food for my meditations, has 
given a direction and object to my fcattered reading, and fupplied me with 
regular occupation for hours that would otherwife have filled me with ennui. 
I have found infinite variety in the ftudy, moreover, which might at firft fight 
feem monotonous. No hiftorical labors, rightly conducted, can be monotonous, 
fince they afford all the variety of purfuing a chain of facts to unforefeen con- 
fequences, of comparing doubtful and contradictory teftimony, of picturesque 
delineations of incident, and of analyfis and dramatic exhibition of character. 
The plain narrative may be fometimes relieved by general views or critical dif- 
cuflions, and the ftory and the actors, as they grow under the hands, acquire con- 
stantly additional intereft. It may feem dreary work to plod through barbarous 
old manufcript chronicles of monks and pedants, but this takes up but a fmall 
portion of the time, and even here, read aloud to, as I have been, required fuch 
clofe attention as always made the time pafs glibly. In fhort, although I have 
fometimes been obliged to whip myfelf up to the work, I have never fairly got 
into it without deriving pleafure from it, and I have moft generally gone to it 
with pleafure, and left it with regret. 

" What do I expect from it, now it is done ? And may it not be all in vain 
and labor loft, after all ? My expectations are not fuch, if I know myfelf, as to 
expofe me to any ferious difappointment. I do not flatter myfelf with the idea 
that I have achieved anything very profound, or, on the other hand, that will be 
very popular. I know myfelf too well to fuppofe the former for a moment. 
I know the public too well, and the fubject I have chofen, to expect the latter. 
But I have made a book illuftrating an unexplored and important period, from 
authentic materials, obtained with much difficulty, and probably in the pofleffion 
of no one library, public or private, in Europe. As a plain, veracious record of 
facts, the work, therefore, till fome one elfe fhall be found to make a better one, 
will fill up a gap in literature which, I fhould hope, would give it a permanent 
value, — a value founded on its utility, though bringing no great fame or gain 
to its author. 

" Come to the worft, and fuppofe the thing a dead failure, and the book born 
only to be damned. Still it will not be all in vain, fince it has encouraged me 
in forming fyftematic habits of intellectual occupation, and proved to me that my 
greateft happinefs is to be the refult of fuch. It is no little matter to be poifeffed 
of this conviction from experience." 

And again, in the following October, when he had entirely 
prepared his work for the prefs, he writes : — 



103 



Chap. VIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 40. 



[is own fatisfac- 
tion in his 
work. 



[is moderate ex- 
pectations 
from it. 



104 

Chap. VIII. 
1837. 

JEt. 41. 



Stereotypes the 
work. 



Mr. C. Folfom 
corredls it. 



Contraft for 
publifhing. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



" Thus ends the labor of ten years, for I have been occupied more or lefs 
with it, in general or particular readings, fince the fummer of 1826, when, in- 
deed, from the difabled ftate of my eyes, I ftudied with little fpirit and very little 
expectation of reaching this refult. But what refult ? Three folid octavos of 
facl:s, important in themfelves, new in an Englifh drefs, and which, therefore, 
however poor may be the execution of the work, muft have fome value in an 
hiftoric view. With the confidence in its having fuch a value, however humble 
it may be, I muft reft contented. And I now part with the companion of fo 
many years with the cheering conviction, that, however great or little good it 
may render the public, it has done much to me, by the hours it has helped to 
lighten, and the habits of application it has helped to form." 

He caufed the whole to be ftereotyped without delay. This 
mode he preferred, becaufe it was one which left him a more 
complete control of his own work than he could obtain in 
any other way, and becaufe, if it rendered corrections and 
alterations more difficult, it yet infured greater typographical 
accuracy at the outfet. Mr. Charles Folfom, a member of 
the pleafant club that had been formed many years before, 
fuperintended its publication with an abfolute fidelity, good 
tafte, and kindnefs that left nothing to defire ; although, as 
the author, when referring to his friend's criticifms and fug- 
geftions, fays, they made his own final revifion anything but a 
finecure. It was, I fuppofe, as carefully carried through the 
prefs as any work ever was in this country. The pains that 
had been taken with its preparation from the firft were con- 
tinued to the laft. 

That it was worth the many years of patient, confcientious 
labor beftowed upon it, the world was not flow to acknowledge. 
It was publifhed in Bofton by the American Stationers' Company, 
— a corporate body that had a fhort time before been organized 
under favorable aufpices, but which troubles in the financial 
condition of the country and other caufes did not permit long 
to continue its operations. The contract with them was a very 
modeft one. It was dated April 10th, 1837, and ftipulated, 
on their part, for the ufe of the ftereotype plates and of the 
engravings already prepared at the author's charge. From 
thefe, twelve hundred and fifty copies might be ftruck off at 
the expenfe of the Company, who were to have five years to 



Letter of Mr. Prescott. 



105 



difpofe of them. The bargain, however, was not, in one point 
of view, unfavorable. It infured the zealous and interefted 
co-operation of a large and fomewhat influential body in the 
fale and diftribution of the work, — a matter of much more 
importance at that time than it would be now, when book- 
felling as a bufinefs and profeffion in the United States is fo 
much more advanced. Otherwife, as a contract, it was cer- 
tainly not brilliant in its promife. But the author thought 
well of it ; and, fince profit had not been his object, he was 
entirely fatisfied. 

I was then in Italy, having been away from home with my Th 
family nearly two years, during which I had constantly received 
letters from him concerning the progrefs of his work. On 
this occafion he wrote to me, April nth, 1837, the very day 
after the date of his contract, as follows : — 

" If your eyes are ever greeted with the afpect of the old North [American 
Review] in your pilgrimage, you may fee anounced the c Hiftory of Ferdinand 
and Ifabella, 3 vols., 8vo,' as in prefs, which means, will be out in October. 
The American Stationers' Company — a company got up with a confiderable 
capital for the publication of expenfive works — have contracted for an edition 
of twelve hundred and fifty copies. I find the ftereotype plates, which coft not 
a great deal more than the ordinary mode of compofition, and they the paper 
and all other materials, and pay me a thoufand dollars. The offer was a liberal 
one, and entirely anfwers my purpofe of introducing the work into the channels 
of circulation, which I could not have effected by fo fmall an inducement as a 
commiflion to a publifher. The Company, as proprietors of the edition, have 
every motive to difTeminate it, and they have their agencies diffufed through 
every part of the United States. What has given me moft fatisfa&ion is the 
very handfome terms in which the book has been recommended by Meflrs. 
, Pickering and Sparks, two of the committee for determining on the publication 
I by the Company, and the former of whom, before perufal, exprefTed himfelf, as 
I know, unfavorably to the work as a marketable concern, from the nature of the 
fubjecl:. My ambition will be fully fatisfied, if the judgments of the few whofe 
good opinion I covet are but half fo favorable as thofe publicly exprefTed by thefe 

gentlemen 

" I muft confefs I feel fome difquietude at the profpect of coming in full 

' bodily prefence, as it were, before the public. I have always fhrunk from fuch 

: an exhibition, and, during the ten years I have been occupied with the work, few 

of my friends have heard me fay as many words about it. When I faw my name 

— harmonious ' Hickling' and all — blazoned in the North American, it gave me, 

as S would fay, ' quite a turn,' — anything but agreeable. But I am in 

14 



Chap. VIII. 



1837. 
JEt. 41 



e author's 
view of his 
contradl. 



His anxiety 
about pub- 

lilhing. 



io6 



Chap. VIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Immediate fuc- 
cefs of the 
work. 



Mr. W. H. Gar- 
diner on its 

firft fuccefs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



for it. Of one thing I feel confident, — that the book has been compiled from 
materials, and with a fidelity, which muft make it fill a hiatus deflendus in Spanifh 
hiftory. For the fame reafons, I cannot think that I have much to fear from 
criticifm ; not to add, that the rarity of my materials is fuch, that I doubt if 
any but a Spaniard pofTeffes the previous knowledge of the whole ground for a 
fair and competent judgment of my hiftorical accuracy. But enough and too 
much of this egotifm ; though I know you and Anna love me too well to call 
it egotifm, and will feel it to be only the unreferved communication made around 
one's own firefide." 

A great furprife to all the parties concerned followed the 
publication. Five hundred copies only were ftruck off at firft ; 
that number being thought quite fumcient for an experiment 
fo doubtful as this was believed to be. No urgency was ufed 
to have the whole even of this inconfiderable edition ready 
for early diftribution and fale. But during feveral days the 
demand was fo great, that copies could not be prepared by the 
bookbinder as faft as they were called for. Three fifths of 
the whole number were difpofed of in Bofton before any could 
be fpared to go elfewhere, and all difappeared in five weeks. 
In a few months, more copies were fold than by the contract it 
had been affumed could be difpofed of in five years ; and from 
the beginning of May, 1838, — that is, in the courfe of four 
months from its firft publication, — the Hiftory itfelf ftood 
before the public in the pofition it has maintained ever fince. 
A fuccefs fo brilliant had never before been reached in fo fhort 
a time by any work of equal fize and gravity on this fide of the 
Atlantic. Indeed, nothing of the fort had approached it. 

" But," as his friend Mr. Gardiner has truly faid, " this wonderfully rapid fale 
of a work fo grave, beginning in his own town, was due in the firft inftance 
largely to its author's great perfonal popularity in fociety, and may be taken as a 
fignal proof of it. For Mr. Prefcott had acquired earlier no marked reputation 
as an author. As a mere man of letters, his fubftantial merits were known 
only by a few intimate friends ; perhaps not fully appreciated by them. To the 
public he was little known in any way. But he was a prodigious favorite with 
whatever was moft cultivated in the fociety of Bofton. Few men ever had fo 
many warmly attached perfonal friends. Still fewer — without more or lefs 
previous diftinction or fame — had ever been fought as companions by voung 
and old of both fexes as he had been. When, therefore, it came to be known 
that the fame perfon who had fo attracted them by an extraordinary combination 
of charming perfonal qualities was about to publifh a book, — and it was 



Immediate Success of the Ferdinand and Isabella. 

known only a very fhort time before the book itfelf appeared, — the fact 
excited the greater!: furprife, curiofity, and intereft. 

u The day of its appearance was looked forward to and talked of. It came, 
and there was a perfect rufh to get copies. A convivial friend, for inftance, 
who was far from being a man of letters, — indeed, a perfon who rarely read a 
book, — got up early in the morning, and went to wait for the opening of the 
publifher's (hop, fo as to fecure the firft copy. It came out at Chriftmas, and 
was at once adopted as the fafhionable Chriftmas and New Year's prefent of 
the feafon. Thofe who knew the author read it from intereft in him. No one 
read it without furprife and delight. Mr. Daniel Webfter, the ftatesman, who 
knew Prefcott well in fociety, was as much furprifed as the reft, and fpoke 
of him as a comet which had fuddenly blazed out upon the world in full 
fplendor. 

" Such is the hiftory of this remarkable fale at its outbreak. Love of the 
author gave the firft impetus. That given, the extraordinary merits of the 
work did all the reft." 

Meantime negotiations had been going on for its publication 
in London. My friend had written to me repeatedly about 
them, and (o unreafonably moderate were his hopes, that, at 
one time, he had thought either not to publifh it at all in 
the United States, or to give away the work here, and make 
his chief venture in England. As early as the 29th of De- 
cember, 1835, he had written to me in Drefden, where I then 
was : — 

" Before clofing my letter, I fhall detain you a little about my own affairs. 
I have nearly clofed my magnum opus, — that is, I fhall clofe it, and have a copy 
of it printed, I truft, early next autumn. I print, you know, only four copies, 
defigning, whether I publifh it here or not, to have it printed in England 

" Although the fubjecl: has nothing in it to touch the times and prefent topics 
of intereft and excitement particularly, yet, as filling up a blank of importance 
in modern hiftory, I cannot but think, if decently executed, that it will not be 
difficult to find fome publifher in London who would be interefted in it. You 
know that lucre is not my object. I wifh, if poffible, to give the work a fair 
chance under fair aufpices. As to the merits of the work, it will be eafy to 
form a judgment, fince the bookfeller will have the advantage of a fair printed 
copy. Now I wifh your advice, how I had beft proceed ? If you fhould be in 
London next winter, my courfe would be clear. I would fend the book to you, 
and doubt not you would put it in a train for getting it into the world, if any 
refpe£table accoucheur could be found to take charge of it. If you fhould not 
be there, as is moft probable, can you advife me what to do next ? 

" I think it poffible I may print the book here fimultaneoufly. offered 

the other day to take the concern off my hands, if I would give him the firft 



IO7 



Chap. VIII. 

1837. 
Mt. 41. 



Negotiations for 
publishing in 
London. 



His own views 
about it. 



io8 



Chap. VIII. 

1837. 
Mt. 41. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Col. Afpinwall. 



impreflion of a certain number of copies. As I have no illufory hopes of a 
fecond, I don't know that I can do better. But I am perfuaded the work, if 
worth anything, is fuited to a European market, — at leaft, enough to indem- 
nify the publimer. Elfe ten years nearly of my life have been thrown away 
indeed. I hope you will not lofe your patience with this long-winded profing, 
and will excufe this egotifm, from the importance of the fubjecl: to myfelf. As 
to the trouble I occafion you, I know you too well to think you will require an 
apology." 

To this I replied from Drefden, February 8th, 1836 : — 

" You fpeak more fully about your opus magnum, and therefore I anfwer more 
fully than I did before. It muft be a proud thought to you that you are fo near 
the end of it ; and yet I think you will leave it with the fame feeling of regret 
with which Gibbon left his Decline and Fall. What, then, will you do to fill 
up the firft void ? Is it out of the queftion that you mould fetch out your copy 
yourfelf, and get the peace of confcience that would follow making the arrange- 
ments for its publication in perfon ? I hope not. For we could eafily manage 
to meet you in England two years hence, and I aflure you, my own experience 
leads me to think it no very grave matter to travel with wife and children. But 
let us fuppofe you do not. What then ? I remain by the fuggeftion in my laft 
letter, that Colonel Afpinwall is the man to take charge of it, provided neither 
you nor I mould be in London, although, if both of us were on the fpot, he 
would be the man with whom I think we mould earlieft advife in all publiming 
arrangements. His place as our Conful-General in London is fomething in 
talking to publifhers. His character, prompt, bufinefs-like, firm, and honorable, 
is ftill more. And then, if I miftake not, he has a good deal of practice with 
thefe people ; for he certainly makes Irving's bargains, and, I believe, has 
managed for and others. This praffice, too, is a matter of moment." 

Very fortunately for the author of Ferdinand and Ifabella, 
Colonel Afpinwall was foon afterwards in Bofton, which is his 
proper home, and in whofe neighborhood he was born. He at 
once undertook in the pleafanteft manner the pleafant com- 
miffion which was offered him, and a mutual regard was the 
confequence of the connection then formed, which was never 
afterwards broken or impaired ; fo much was there in common 
between the characters of the two high-minded and culti- 
vated men. 

In the autumn of 1836, one of the four printed copies, 
carefully corrected, was, therefore, fent to Colonel Afpinwall, 
accompanied by a letter dated October 28th, in which the 
author fays : — 



Publication in England. 



109 



1837- 

JEt. 41 



Mr. Murray and : 
the Me firs. 
Longman de- 
cline the 
work. 



"With regard to the arrangements for publication, which you have been kind |Chap. VIII. 
enough to allow me to truft to you, I can only fay that I fhall abide entirely by 
your judgment. I certainly mould not difdain any profits which might flow 
from it, though I believe you will do me the juftice to think that I have been 
influenced by higher motives in the compofition of the work. If I have fuc- 
ceeded, I have fupplied an important defideratum in hiftory, but one which, 
I fear, has too little in it of a temporary or local intereft to win its way 
into public favor very fpeedily. But if the bookfeller can wait, I am fure 
I can." 

The firfb attempts with the trade in London were not en- 
couraging. Murray, the elder, to whom the book was at once 
offered, declined promptly to become its publifher ; probably 
without an examination of its merits, and certainly without 
a thorough one. Longman took more time, but came to the 
fame conclufion. The author, as might have been expected, 
was chagrined, and, with the opennefs of his nature, laid fo, 
in his letters both to Colonel Afpinwall and to me. 

" Murray's decifion," he wrote to the former, " was too prompt to be final 
with me ; but Longman has examined the matter fo deliberately, that I am con- 
vinced there is little reafon to fuppofe the book can be regarded as a profitable 
concern for a London publifher. It will undoubtedly prejudice the work to go 
a-begging for a patron, and my ill-fuccefs will thus acquire a difagreeable 
notoriety not only there, but here, where nothing is known of my foreign 
negotiations. I think it beft, therefore, to take Uncle Toby's advice on the 
occafion, and fay nothing about it to any one. For the copy in your pofleflion, 
you had beft put it out of fight. It will foon be replaced by one of the Bofton 
edition in a more comely garb. If you mould have propofed the work before 
receiving this to any other perfon, I fhall not care to hear of its refufal from 
you, as it will difguft me with the book before it is fairly born." 

Similar feelings he expreffed even more ftrongly two days 
later. But this ftate of things was not deftined to laft long. 
Before the letter which was intended to difcourage any further 
propofition in London had reached Colonel Afpinwall, Mr. 
Richard Bentley had accepted an offer of the book. A few 
days after learning this, the author wrote to me in a very 
different ftate of mind from that in which he had written 
his laft letters. 

" Bofton, May 16, 1837. 

"My dearest Friend, ''i^ott^n 

" I told you in my laft that no arrangement for the publication had been thc Iub j ( . d 



Mr. Bentley un- 
dertakes to 
publilh it. 



I IO 



Chap. VIII. 

1838. 
JEt. 41. 



Publifhed an£, 
reviewed in 
the United 
States. 



William Hick ling Prescott 



made in England. I was miftaken, however, as I foon afterwards received a 
letter from Colonel Afpinwall, informing me of one with Bentley, by which he 
becomes proprietor of one half of the copyright, and engages to publifh forth- 
with an edition at his own coft and rifk, and divide with me the profits. He 
fays, ' It will be an object for him to get out the work in elegant ftyle, with 
engravings, vignettes, &c.' This is certainly much better, confidering the 
obfcurity of the author and the abfence of all temporary allufion or intereft in 
the fubjecl:, than I had a right to expect. My object is now attained. I mail 
bring out the book in the form I defired, and under the moft refpectable aufpices 
on both fides of the water, and in a way which muft intereft the publifher fo 
deeply as to fecure his exertions to circulate the work. My bark will be fairly 
launched, and if it mould be doomed to encounter a fpiteful puff or two of 
criticifm, I truft it may weather it." 

But he encountered no fuch adverfe blafts. Immediately 
after the appearance of the book at Chriftmas, 1837, but with 
the imprint of 1838, a very long and able article on it by his 
friend Mr. Gardiner, who, as we have feen, had juft affifted 
in preparing it for the prefs, was publifhed in the " North 
American Review." 2 A little later, another friend, the Rev. 
Mr. Greenwood, — whofe name it is not poffible to mention 
without remembering what forrow followed the early lofs of 
one whofe genius was at once fo brilliant and fo tender, — 
wrote a review for the " Chriftian Examiner/' no lefs favorable 
than that of Mr. Gardiner. 3 Others followed. An excellent 
notice by Mr. John Pickering appeared in the " New York 
Review," — true, careful, and difcriminating. 4 And the feries 
of the more elaborate American difcuffions was clofed in the 
" Democratic Review " of the next month by Mr. Bancroft, 
— himfelf an hiftorian already of no mean note, and deftined 
to yet more diftinclion on both fides of the Atlantic. Of 
courfe, there were many other notices in periodical publica- 
tions of lefs grave pretenfions, and ftill more in the newfpapers ; 
for the work excited an intereft which had not been at all 
forefeen. It was read by great numbers who feldom looked into 
anything fo folid and ferious. It was talked of by all who 
ever talked of books. Whatever was written or faid about it 
was in one tone and temper ; fo that, as far as the United 



January, 1838. 



March, 1838. 



4 April, 1838. 



Reviews in England. 



States were concerned, it may be regarded as fuccefsful from 
the moment of its appearance. 

Nor did the notices which at the fame time came from 
England mow anything but good-will towards the unknown 
and unheralded claimant for the higher clafs of literary honors. 
They were written, of courfe, by perfons who had never before 
heard of him, but their spirit was almoft as kindly as if they 
had been dictated by perfonal friendfhip. The "Athenaeum " led 
off with a fhort laudatory article, which, I believe, was from the 
pen of Dr. Dunham, who wrote the fummary Hiftory of Spain 
and Portugal in Lardner's "Cabinet Cyclopaedia/' 5 An article, 
however, in the " Edinburgh Review," a little later, was much 
more fatisfaclory. 6 It was the firft examination that the work 
obtained in England from one whofe previous fpecial knowl- 
edge of the reign of Ferdinand and Ifabella enabled him to 
do it thoroughly. Its author was Don Pafcual de Gayangos, a 
learned and accomplished Spanifh gentleman, then refident in 
London, who wrote the Caftilian and the Englifh with equal 
purity and elegance, and of whofe kindly connection with Mr. 
Prefcott it will be neceffary for me to fpeak often hereafter. 
He made in his article on the "Ferdinand and Ifabella" a faith- 
ful and real review of the work, going over its feveral divifions 
with care, and giving a diftincl opinion on each. It was more 
truly an examination of the work, and lefs a differtation on 
the fubjecl:, than is common in fuch articles, and on this ac- 
count it will always have its value. 

To this fucceeded in June an article in the " Quarterly Re- 
view," by an Englifh gentleman familiar with everything Span- 
ifh ; I mean Mr. Richard Ford, who wrote the "Handbook of 
Spain," — a brilliant work, not without marks of prejudice, 
but full of a fingularly minute and curious local knowledge 
of Spain, and of Spanifh hiftory and manners. His article 
on "Ferdinand and Ifabella" 7 is marked with the fame char- 
acteristics and fimilar prejudices. He is obvioufly a little 
unwilling to think that a book written with learning, judg- 

5 1838, pp. 42-44. 6 January, 1839. 7 June, 1839. 



I I I 



Chap. VIII. 

1839. 
JEt. 42. 

In England. 



Don Pafcualde 
Gayangos. 



Mr. R. Fori. 






I 12 



Chap. VIII 

1839. 
^Et. 43. 



Count Circourt. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



ment, and good tafte can come from fuch a Nazareth as the 
United States ; but he admits it at laft. Perhaps his reluctant 
teftimony was hardly lefs gratifying to the author than one 
more cordial would have been. 

A feries of articles, however, which appeared in the " Bi- 
bliotheque Univerfelle de Geneve" between July, 1838, and 
January, 1840, — five in number, and making together above 
a hundred and eighty pages, — gave Mr. Prefcott himfelf more 
fatisfaction than any other review of his work. And well 
they might, for no other review of the Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella can be compared to it in amplitude or elaboratenefs. 
It was written by Count Adolphe de Circourt, a perfon whom 
Lamartine has called "a living chart of human knowledge." 8 



8 Speaking of the peculiar fitnefs of the 
appointment of this gentleman to the very- 
important miffion at the Court of Berlin, 
immediately after the fall of Louis Philippe, 
in 1848; Lamartine fays: " Cet homme, 
peu connu jufques-la hors du monde ariflo- 
cratique, litteraire, et favant, fe nommait 
Monf. de Circourt. II avait fervi fous la 
Reftauration dans la diplomatic La revo- 
lution de Juillet l'avait rejete dans l'ifole- 
ment et dans l'oppofition, plus pres du 
legitimifme que de la democratic II avait 
profite de ces anne'es pour fe livrer a des 
etudes, qui aurient abforbe plufieurs vies 
d'hommes, et qui n'etaient que des dif- 
tradlions de la fienne. Langues, races, 
ge'ographie, hiiloire, philofophie, voyages, 
conilitutions, religions des peuples depuis 
l'enfance du monde jufqu'a nos jours, 
depuis le Thibet jufqu'aux Alpes, il avait 
tout incorpore en lui ; tout reflechi ; tout 
retenu. On pouvait l'interroger sur l'uni- 
verfalite des faits ou des idees, dont se 
compose le monde, fans qu'il eut befoin, 
pour repondre, d'interroger d'autres livres 
que fa memoire, etendue, furface et pro- 
fondeur immenfe des notions, dont jamais 
on ne rencontrait ni le fond, ni les limites, 
— mappemonde vivante des connaiffances 
humaines, homme ou tout e'tait tete et 
dont la tete e'tait a la hauteur de toutes les 



verite's ; impartial du refle ; indifFe'rent 
entre les fyltemes comme un etre qui ne 
ferait qu'intelligence, et qui ne tiendrait 
a la nature humaine que par le regard et 
par la curiofite. Monf. de Circourt avait 
e'poufe une jeune femme Ruffe, de race 
ariftocratique et d'un efprit Europeen. II 
tenait par elle a tout ce qu'il y avait d'emi- 
nent dans les lettres et dans les cours 
de PAllemagne et du Nord. Lui-meme 
avait refide a Berlin, et il Py e'tait lie 
avec les hommes d'e'tat. Le Roi de Pruife, 
fouverain lettre et liberal, l'avait honore' 
de quelque intimite a fa cour. Monf. de 
Circourt, fans etre re'publicain de cceur, 
e'tait affez frappe' des grands horizons 
qu'une Re'publique Franc^aife — e'clofe du 
genie progreffif, et pacifique de la France 
nouvelle — pouvait ouvrir a 1'efprit hu- 
main, pour la faluer et la fervir. II com- 
prenait, comme Lamartine, que la liberte' 
avait befoin de la paix, et que la paix e'tait 
a Berlin et a Londres." — Revolution de 
1848, Livre xi. c. 13. 

I have inferted thefe ftriking remarks of 
Lamartine on Monf. and Mad. de Cir- 
court, becaufe they will appear hereafter 
as the friends of Mr. Prefcott. They will 
alfo be remembered by many of my read- 
ers as the intimate friends and correfpond- 
ents of De Tocqueville and Count Cavour. 



Review by Count Circourt. 



113 



It goes in the moft thorough manner over the whole fubjecl, Chap. VIII 
and examines the difficult and doubtful points in the hiftory 1839. 
of the period with a remarkable knowledge of the original JEt. 43. 
fources and authorities. Sometimes the reviewer differs from 
the author ; maintaining, for inftance, that the union of the 
crowns of Caftile and Aragon was not a benefit to Spain, and 
that the war againft Granada is not to be juftined by the 
code of a Chriftian civilization. And fometimes he makes ad- 
ditions to the Hiftory itfelf, as in the cafe of the conqueft of 
Navarre. But whatever he fays is faid in a philofophical fpirit, 
and with a generous purpofe ; and, coming in a foreign lan- 
guage from one who knew the author only in his book, it 
founds more like the voice of pofterity than either the Ameri- 
can or the Englifh reviews that were contemporary with it. 




ii4 



Chap. IX. 

1838. 
JEt. 40. 

The author's 
view of his 
own fuccefs. 




CHAPTER IX. 

1838. 

The Author s Feelings on the Succefs of Ferdinand and Ifabella. — Illnefs 
of his Mother, and her Recovery. — Opinions in Europe concerning his 
Hiftory. 

ASSING over the multitude of notices that 
appeared concerning the " Hiftory of Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," it will be pleafant to fee how 
the author himfelf felt in the firft flufh of his 
unexpected honors. I was then in Paris, and 
ten days after the book was publifhed in Bofton 
he wrote to me as follows : — 

"Bofton, Jan. 6, 1838. 

"My dear Friend, 

" It is long fince I have feen your handwriting ; though only a few weeks fince 
I received a molt kind and welcome epiftle from Anna. Your friends here 
fay you are not going to hold out your four years, and I could not help thinking 
that the complexion of Anna's fentiments looked rather homeijh. 1 I wim it 
may prove fo. You will, at leaft, be fpared, by your return, fundry long com- 
munications from me, with a plentiful dafh of egotifm in them. 

" There is fome excufe for this, however, juft now, which is a fort of epoch 
in my life, — my literary life at leaft. Their Catholic Highnefles have juft 
been ufhered into the world in three royal octavos. The bantling appeared on 




1 I went abroad, with my family, for 
Mrs. Ticknor's health, in 1835, intending 
to ilay abroad four years, if, as her phyfi- 
cians feared, fo much time might be necef- 



fary for her refloration. She was well in 
three, and we gladly came home a few 
months after the date of this letter. 



1 1 



Ch, 



IX. 



1838. 

JEt. 41. 



Mr. Gardiner's 
review. 



The Atithors Feeling of Success. 

a Chriftmas morning, and certainly has not fallen ftill-born, but is alive and 
kicking merrily. How long its life may laft is another queftion. Within the 
firft ten days half the firft edition of five hundred copies (for the publifhers were 
afraid to rifk a larger one for our market) has been difpofed of, and they are now 
making preparations for a fecond edition, having bought of me twelve hundred 
and fifty copies. The fale, indeed, feems quite ridiculous, and I fancy 
many a poor foul thinks fo by this time. Not a fingle copy has been fent 
South, — the publifhers not choofing to ftrip the market while they can find 
fuch demand here. 

"In the mean time the book has got fummer-pufFs in plenty, and a gale to the 
tune of ninety pages from the old ' North American.' S facetioufly re- 
marked, that ' the article mould be called the fourth volume of the Hiftory.' 
It was written by Gardiner, after feveral months' induftrious application, — 
though eventually concocted in the very fhort fpace of ten days, 2 which has 
given occafion to fome overfights. It is an able, learned, and moft partial 
review ; and I doubt if more knowledge of the particular fubjecl: can eafily be 
fupplied by the craft on the other fide of the water, — at leaft without the aid 
of a library as germane to the matter as mine, which, I think, will not readily be 
met with. I feel half inclined to send you a beautiful critique from the pen 
of your friend Hillard, as much to my tafte as anything that has appeared. But Mr. Hillard's. 
pudor vetat. 

" In the mean time the fmall journals have opened quite a cry in my favor, jOtlu 
and while one of yefterday claims me as a Boftonian, a Salem paper afTerts that 
diftingui fried honor for the witch-town. So you fee I am experiencing the fate 
of the Great Obfcure, even in my own lifetime. And a clergyman told me 
yefterday, he intended to make my cafe — the obftacles I have encountered and 
overcome — the fubjecl: of a fermon. I told him it would help to fell the book, 
at all events. 

"'Poor fellow!' — I hear you exclaim by this time, — 'his wits are actually 
turned by this flurry in his native village, — the Yankee Athens ! ' Not a whit, 
I afTure you. Am I not writing to two dear friends, to whom I can talk as 
freely and foolifhly as to one of my own houfehold, and who, I am fure, will 
not mifunderftand me ? The effecl: of all this — which a boy at Dr. Gardiner's 
fchool, I remember, called fungum popularitatem — has been rather to deprefs me, 

and S was faying yefterday, that fhe had never known me fo out of fpirits 

as fince the book has come out. The truth is, I appreciate, more than my 
critics can do, the difficulty of doing juftice to my fubject, and the immeafurable 
diftance between me and the models with which they have been pleafed to 
compare me 

"From two things I have derived unfeigned fatisfac~tion ; one, the delight of 
my good father, who feems difpofed to fwallow — without the requifite allowance 



ier notices. 



2 He had, as has been noticed, gone 
over the whole work before it was pub- 
lifhed, and had done it with a continual 
confultation of the authorities on which 



its facls and ilatements were founded. He 
was, therefore, completely mailer of the 
fubject, and wrote with an authority that 
few reviewers can claim. 



n6 



Chap. IX, 

1838. 
JEt. 41. 



The author's 
view of the 
refults. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



of fait — all the good-natured things which are faid of the book, and the other, 
the hearty and active kindnefs of the few whom I have thought and now find to 
be my friends. I feel little doubt that the work, owing to their exertions, when 
it gets to the Southern cities where I am not known, will find a fair reception, 
— though, of courfe, I cannot expect anything like the welcome it has 
met here. 3 I feel relieved, however, as well as the publifhers, from all 
apprehenfions that the book will burn their fingers, whatever it may do to the 

author's 

" I have fent a copy for you to Rich [London], who will forward it according 
to your directions. I fuppofe there will be no difficulty in fending it over to 

Paris, if you remain there. Only advife him thereof. A favorable 

notice in a Parifian journal of refpectability would be worth a good deal. But, 
after all, my market and my reputation reft principally with England, and if your 
influence can fecure me, not a friendly, but a fair notice there, in any of the 
three or four leading journals, it would be the beft thing you ever did for me, — 
and that is no fmall thing to fay. But I am afking what you will do without 
afking, if any foreigner could hope to have fuch influence. I know that the 
fiat of criticifm now-a-days depends quite as much on the temper and character 
of the reviewer as the reviewed, and, in a work filled with facts dug out of bar- 
barous and obiblete idioms, it will be eafy to pick flaws and ferve them up as a 
fample of the whole. But I will fpare you further twaddle about their Catholic 
Highneffes." 



A little later, April 30, 1838, in his private Memoranda, 
after giving a detailed account of the circumftances attending 
its publication, the contracts for printing, and the printing 
itfelf, — all which he thus laid up for future ufe, — he goes 
on : — 

" Well, now for the refult in America and England thus far. My work ap- 
peared here on the 25th of December, 1837. Its birth had been prepared 
for by the favorable opinions, en avance, of the few friends who in its progrefs 
through the prefs had feen it. It was corrected previously as to ftyle, &c, by 
my friend Gardiner, who beftowed fome weeks, and I may fay months, on its 
careful revifion, and who fuggefted many important alterations in the form. 
Simonds 4 had previoufly fuggefted throwing the introductory " Section 2 " on 
Aragon into its prefent place, it firft having occupied the place after Chapter III. 
The work was indefatigably corrected, and the references moft elaborately and 
fyftematically revifed by Folfom 

" From the time of its appearance to the prefent date, it has been the fubject 



J See ante, p. 106. 

4 Mr. Henry C. Simonds, who was Mr. 
Prefcott's reader and fecretary for four 
years, — an accomplished young fcholar, 



for whom he felt a very fincere regard. 
Mr. Simonds died two years after this 
date, in 1840. 



Results. 



of notices, more or lefs elaborate, in the principal reviews and periodicals of 
the country, and in the mafs of criticifm I have not met with one unkind, or 
farcaftic, or cenforious fentence ; and my critics have been of all forts, from 
ftiff confervatives to levelling loco-focos. Much of all this fuccefs is to be 
attributed to the influence and exertions of perfonal friends, — much to the 
beautiful drefs and mechanical execution of the book, — and much to the 
novelty, in our country, of a work of refearch in various foreign languages. 
The topics, too, though not connected with the times, have novelty and im- 
portance in them. Whatever is the caufe, the book has found a degree of 
favor not dreamed of by me certainly, nor by its warmeft friends. It will, I 
have reafon to hope, fecure me an honeft fame, and — what never entered into 



t.h< 



fome 



money in my 



my imagination in writing it — put, in tne long run, 
pocket. 

" In Europe things wear alfo a very aufpicious afpecl: fo far. The weekly 
periodicals — the lefler lights of criticifm — contain the moft ample commen- 
dations on the book ; feveral of the articles being written with fpirit and beauty. 
How extenfively the trade winds may have helped me along, I cannot fay. 
But fo far the courfe has been fmooth and rapid. Bentley fpeaks to my friends 
in extravagant terms of the book, and ftates that nearly half the edition, which 
was of feven hundred and fifty copies, had been fold by the end of March. 5 In 
France, thanks to my friend Ticknor, it has been put into the hands of the 
principal favans in the Caftilian. Copies have alfo been fent to fome eminent 
fcholars in Germany. Thus far, therefore, we run before the wind." 

I will not refufe myfelf the pleafure of inferting what I had 
already written to him from Paris, February 20th, when, the 
London copy he had fent me having failed to come to hand, 
I had read the firft volume of " Ferdinand and Ifabella" in an 
American copy which had reached a friend in that city : — 

" I have got hold of the firft volume, and may, perchance, have the luck to 
fee the others. It has fatisfied all my expectations, and when I tell you that 
I wrote to Colonel Afpinwall from Berlin, nearly two years ago, placing you 
quite at the fide of Irving, you will underftand how I feel about it. I fpoke 
confcientioufly when I wrote to Afpinwall, and I do the fame now. You have 
written a book that will not be forgotten. The Dedication to your father was 
entirely anticipated by me, — its tone and its fpirit, — everything except its 
beautiful words. He is happy to have received a tribute fo true and fo due, — 
fo worthy of him and fo rarely to be had of any." 

But in the midft of the happinefs which his fuccefs naturally 



5 Mr. Bentley had requefted me to tell 
Mr. Prefcott that he was proud of having 
publifhed fuch a book, and that he thought 



it would prove the beft he had ever brought 
out. 



117 

Chap. IX. 

1838. 
JEt. 41. 



n8 



Chap. IX. 


1838- 
JEt. 42. 


Illnefs of his 
mother. 



Opinions in 
France and 
England on 
the " Ferdi- 
nand and Ifa- 
bella." 



William Hickling Prescott. 



produced, trouble came upon him. The family had gone, as 
ufual, to Pepperell in the early fummer of 1838, when a fevere 
illnefs of his mother brought them fuddenly back to town, and 
kept them there above two months, at the end of which me 
was happily reftored, or nearly fo. 

" Moved from Pepperell," he fays in his private memoranda, " prematurelv, 
June 26th, on account of the diftreffing illnefs of my mother, which ftill, 
July 1 6th, detains us in this peftilent place, amidft heats which would do 
credit to the tropics. The fame caufe has prevented me from giving nearly as 
many hours to my ftudies as I mould otherwife have done, being in rather an 
induftrious mood. My mother's health, apparently improving, may permit me 
to do this. 

But the next notice, July 27th, is more comfortable : — 

" Been a month now in Bofton, which I find more tolerable than at firft. 
The heat has much abated, and, indeed, a fummer refidence here has many alle- 
viations. But I mould never prefer it to a fummer at Nahant. Have received 
an Englim copy of c Ferdinand and Ifabella.' Better paper, blacker ink, more 
fhowy pages, but, on the whole, not fo good type, and, as the printer did not 
receive the corrections in feafon for the laft three chapters, there are many ver- 
bal inaccuracies. The plates are good, — the portrait of Columbus exquifite, 
and about as much like him, I fuppofe, as any other. On the whole, Bentley 
has done fairly by the work. My friend Ticknor brings me home a very favor- 
able report of the opinions expreffed of the work by French and Englim fcholars. 
If this report is not colored by his own friendfhip, the book will take fome rank 
on the other fide of the water." 

As he intimates, I was juft then returned from Europe after 
an abfence of three years. He met me at the cars on my 
arrival from New York, where I had landed ; but his counte- 
nance was fad and troubled with the dangerous illnefs of his 
mother, then at its height. I faw him, however, daily, and 
talked with him in the freeft and fulleft manner about his 
literary poiition and profpecls ; giving him, without exaggera- 
tion, an account of the opinions held in England and France 
concerning his work, which he could not choofe but find 
very gratifying. 

I had, in fact, received the book itfelf before I left Paris, 
and had given copies of it to M. Guizot, M. Mignet, Count 
Adolphe de Circourt, and M. Charles Fauriel. The laft 



Opinion in England and France. 



three, as well as fome other friends, had expreffed to me 
their high eftimation of it, in terms very little meafured, which 
were, in their fubftance, repeated to me later by M. Guizot, 
when he had had leifure to read it. Four perfons better quali- 
fied to judge the merits of fuch a work could not, I fuppofe, 
have then been found in France, and the opinion of Count 
Circourt, fet forth in the learned and admirable review already 
alluded to, would, I think, fubfequently have been accepted by 
any one of them as fubftantially his own. 

In England, where I paffed the fpring and early fummer, I 
found the fame judgment was pronounced and pronouncing. 
At Holland Houfe, then the higheft tribunal in London on 
the fubjecl: of Spanifh hiftory and literature, Lord Holland and 
Mr. John Allen, who were both juft finiihing its perufal, did 
not conceal from me the high value they placed upon it ; Mr. 
Allen telling me that he regarded the introductory fections on 
the conftitutional hiftory of Aragon and Caftile — which, it 
will be remembered, were three times written over, and twice 
printed, before they were finally given to the prefs for publica- 
tion — as poffeffing a very high merit as ftatefmanlike difcuffions, 
and as better than anything elfe extant on the fame fubjecl. 6 
Southey, whom I afterwards faw at Kefwick, and from whofe 
judgment on anything relating to Spanifh hiftory few would 
venture to appeal, volunteered to me an opinion no lefs de- 
cifive. 7 

The more important Reviews had not yet fpoken ; but, re- 
membering the wiih expreffed by my friend in a letter to me 
already cited, — though, as he intimated, not needing fuch an 



6 I ought, perhaps, to add here, that, by- 
common content of the fcholars of the 
time, the opinion of no man in England, 
on fuch a point, would have been placed 
before Mr. Allen's. 

7 Mr. Prefcott was efpecially gratified 
with this opinion of Mr. Southey, becaufe 
he had much feared that the rejection of 
his book by the Longmans was the refult 
of advice from Southey, whofe publifhers 



they were, and who was often confulted 
by them refpefting the publication of fuch 
works. But the Longmans declined it, as 
Southey himfelf told me, only becaufe they 
did not, at the time, wifh to increafe their 
lift of new publications. The fame cam , 
I fubfequently underftood, had governed 
the decifion of Murray, who did not even 
give the book to anybody for a judgment 
on its merits. 



119 



Chap. IX. 

1838. 
JEt. 42. 



120 

Chap. XI. 

1838. 
JEt. 42. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



expreffion, — I made, through the ready kindnefs of Lord 
Holland, arrangements with Mr. McVey Napier, the editor 
of the " Edinburgh Review," for the article in that journal by 
Don Pafcual de Gayangos, of which an account has already 
been given. Mr. Lockhart, the Ariftarch of the " Quarterly 
Review," had not read the book when I fpoke to him about it, 
but he told me he had heard from good authority that " it was 
one that would laft " ; and the refult of his own examination 
of it was Mr. Ford's review, Mr. Ford himfelf having been, I 
fuppofe, the authority referred to. Mr. Hallam, to whom I 
fent a copy in the author's name, acknowledged its receipt in 
a manner the moft gratifying, and fo did Mr. Milman ; both 
of thefe diftinguifhed and admirable men becoming afterwards 
perfonally attached to Mr. Prefcott, and correfponding with 
him, from time to time, until his death. Thefe, and fome 
others like them, were the fuffrages that I bore to my friend 
on my return home early in July, and to which, in the paf- 
fages I have cited from his Memoranda, he alludes. They 
were all of one temper and in one tone. I had heard of no 
others, and had, therefore, no others to give him. At home its 
fuccefs, I found, was already fully arTured. As Dr. Channing 
had told him, " Your book has been received here with accla- 



mation. 



" 8 



8 A year after its publication, the author 
records very naturally, among his private 
Memoranda: "Dec. 25, 1838. The 
anniverfary of the appearance of their 
Catholic Highneffes Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella, God blefs them ! What would I 
have given lafl year to know they would 
have run off fo glibly ? " I think about 



twenty-eight hundred copies had been fold 
in the United States when this record was 
made, — only a foretafte of the fubfequent 
fuccefs. On the ift of January, i860, the 
aggregate fales in the United States and 
England amounted to feventeen thoufand 
feven hundred and thirty-one. 



121 




CHAPTER X, 

1837 -1838. 

Mr. Prefcotfs Char after at this Period. — Effetl of his Infirmity of Sight in 
forming it. — Nomograph. — Diftribution of his Day. — Contrivances 
for Regulating the Light in his Room. — Premature Decay of Sight. — 

Ex aft Syftem of Exercife and Life generally. — Firm Will in carrying 

it out. 

^^pHEN the Ferdinand and Ifabella was publifhed, 
i in the winter of 1837- 8, its author was nearly 
$ forty-two years old. His character, fome of: 
whofe traits had been prominent from child- 
hood, while others had been flowly developed, 
was fully formed. His habits were fettled 
for life. He had a perfectly well-defined individuality, as 
everybody knew who knew anything about his occupations 
and ways. 

Much of what went to conftitute this individuality was the 

refult of his infirmity of fight, and of the unceafing ftruggle 

he had made to overcome the difficulties it entailed upon 

him. For, as we fhall fee hereafter, the thought of this 

16 




Chap. X. 

1837- 1838. 
y£-r. 41 - 42. 

Mr. Prefcotfs 
chara&et. 



122 



Chap. 


X. 


1837 -] 
ALt. 41 


838. 
-42. 


Firft grav 
about h 
fight. 


1 fears 
s eye- 



Gives up a pro 
ferfion. 



Unwritten com 
pofitions. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



infirmity, and of the embarraflments it brought with it, was 
ever before him. It colored, and in many refpects it controlled, 
his whole life. 

The violent inflammation that refulted from the fierce attack 
of rheumatifm in the early months of 18 15 firft ftartled him, 
I think, with the apprehenfion that he might poflibly be 
deprived of fight altogether, and that thus his future years 
would be left in " total eclipfe, without all hope of day." 
But from this dreary apprehenfion, his recovery, flow and 
partial as it was, and the buoyant fpirits that entered fo largely 
into his conftitution, at laft relieved him. He even, from time 
to time, as the difeafe fluctuated to and fro, had hopes of an 
entire reftoration of his fight. 

But, before long, he began to judge things more exactly as 
they were, and faw plainly that anything like a full recovery 
of his fight was improbable, if not impofiible. He turned his 
thoughts, therefore, to the refources that would ftill remain 
to him. The profpecl: was by no means a pleafant one, 
but he looked at it fteadily and calmly. All thought of 
the profefiion which had long been fo tempting to him he 
gave up. He faw that he could never fulfil its duties. But 
intellectual occupation he could not give up. It was a grat- 
ification and refource which his nature demanded, and would 
not be refufed. The difficulty was to find out how it could 
be obtained. During the three months of his confinement 
in total darknefs at St. Michael's, he firft began to difci- 
pline his thoughts to fuch orderly compofition in his mem- 
ory as he might have written down on paper, if his fight 
had permitted it. " I have cheated," he fays, in a letter to 
his family written at the end of that difcouraging period, — 
" I have cheated many a moment of tedium by compofitions 
which were foon banifhed from my mind for want of an 
amanuenfis." 

Among thefe compofitions was a Latin ode to his friend 
Gardiner, which was prepared wholly without books, but 
which, though now loft, like the reft of his Latin verfes, he 



Noctograpk 



repeated years afterwards to his Club, who did not fail to think 
it good. It is evident, however, that, for a confiderable time, 
he reforted to fuch mental occupations and exercifes rather as 
an amufement than as anything more ferious. Nor did he at 
firft go far with them even as a light and tranfient relief from 
idlenefs ; for, though he never gave them up altogether, and 
though they at laft became a very important element in his 
fuccefs as an author, he foon found an agreeable fubftitute for 
them, at leaft fo far as his immediate, every-day wants were 
concerned. 

The fubftitute to which I refer, but which itfelf implied 
much previous reflection and thought upon what he mould 
commit to paper, was an apparatus to enable the blind to write. 
He heard of it in London during his firft refidence there in 
the fummer of 1816. A lady, at whofe houfe he vifited fre- 
quently, and who became interefted in his misfortune, " told 
him," as he fays in a letter to his mother, " of a newly invented 
machine by which blind people are enabled to write. I. have," 
he adds, " before been indebted to Mrs. Delafield for an ingen- 
ious candle-fcreen. If this machine can be procured, you will 
be fure to feel the effects of it." 

He obtained it at once ; bat he did not ufe it until nearly a 
month afterwards, when, on the 24th of Auguft, at Paris, he 
wrote home his firft letter with it, faying, " It is a very happy 
invention for me." And fuch it certainly proved to be, for he 
never ceafed to ufe it from that day ; nor does it now feem 
poffible that, without the facilities it afforded him, he ever 
would have ventured to undertake any of the works which 
have made his name what it is. 1 

The machine — if machine it can properly be called — is 
an apparatus invented by one of the well-known Wedgewood 
family, and is very fimple both in its ftructure and ufe. It 



1 This very apparatus, the firft he ever 
had, is flill extant. Indeed, he never pof- 
ieffed but one other, and that was its exaft 
duplicate. The oldeft is nearly ufed up. 
But, although he never had more than two 



for himfelf, he caufed others to be made 
for perfons fufFering under infirmities like 
his own, — not infrequently fending them 
to thofe who were known to him only as 
needing fuch help. 



123 



Chap. X. 
1837- 1838. 

T. 4I-42. 



No&ograph. 



Description of 
the noc~to- 
graph. 



124 



William Hickling Prescott. 



^Et. 41 - 42 



Mode of ufing it. 



Chap. X. . looks, as it lies folded up on the table, like a clumfy portfolio, 
1837 - 1838. bound in morocco, and meafures about ten inches by nine 
when unopened. Sixteen ftout parallel brafs wires fattened on 
the right-hand fide into a frame of the fame fize with the cover, 
much like the frame of a fchool-boy's flate, and crofting it 
from fide to fide, mark the number of lines that can be written 
on a page, and guide the hand in its blind motions. This 
framework of wires is folded down upon a fheet of paper 
thoroughly impregnated with a black fubftance, efpecially on 
its under furface, beneath which lies the meet of common 
paper that is to receive the writing. There are thus, when 
it is in ufe, three layers on the right-hand fide of the opened 
apparatus; viz. the wires, the blackened fheet of paper, and 
the white fheet, — all lying fuccefiively in contacl: with each 
other, the two that are underneath being held firmly in their 
places by the framework of wires which is uppermoft. The 
whole apparatus is called a noBograph. 

When it has been adjufted, as above defcribed, the perfon 
ufing it writes with an ivory ftyle, or with a ftyle made of 
fome harder fubftance, like agate, on the upper furface of the 
blackened paper, which, wherever the ftyle prefles on it, tranf- 
fers the coloring matter of its under furface to the white paper 
beneath it, — the writing thus produced looking much like 
that done with a common black-lead pencil. 

The chief difficulty in the ufe of fuch an apparatus is ob- 
vious. The perfon employing it never looks upon his work ; 
never fees one of the marks he is making. He trufts wholly 
to the wires for the direction of his hand. He makes his 
letters and words only from mechanical habk. He muft, 
therefore, write ftraight forward, without any opportunity for 
correction, however grofs may be the miftakes he has made, or 
however fure he may be that he has made them ; for, if he 
were to go back in order to correct an error, he would only 
make his page ftill more confufed, and probably render it quite 
illegible. When, therefore, he has made a miftake, great or 
fmall, all he can do is to go forward, and rewrite further on 



Difficulty of 
ufing it. 



X 



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t 



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A 



Boldness in becoming an Historian. 



the word or phrafe he firft intended to write, rarely attempt- 
ing to ftrike out what was wrong, or to infert, in its proper 
place, anything that may have been omitted. It is plain, 
therefore, that the perfon who reforts to this apparatus as a 
fubftitute for fight ought previoufly to prepare and fettle in 
his memory what he wifhes to write, fo as to make as few 
miftakes as pofflble. With the beft care, his manufcript will 
not be very legible. Without it, he may be fure it can hardly 
be deciphered at all. 

That Mr. Prefcott, under his difheartening infirmities, — I 
refer not only to his imperfect fight, but to the rheumatifm 
from which he was feldom wholly free, — mould, at the age 
of five-and-twenty or thirty, with no help but this fimple 
apparatus, have afpired to the character of an hiftorian dealing 
with events that happened in times and countries far diftant 
from his own, and that are recorded chiefly in foreign languages 
and by authors whofe conflicting teftimony was often to be 
reconciled by laborious comparifon, is a remarkable fact in 
literary hiftory. It is a problem the folution of which was, 
I believe, never before undertaken ; certainly never before ac- 
complished. Nor do I conceive that he himfelf could have 
accomplifhed it, unlefs to his uncommon intellectual gifts had 
been added great animal fpirits, a ftrong, perfiftent will, and a 
moral courage which was to be daunted by no obftacle that 
he might deem it pofflble to remove by almoft any amount of 
effort. 2 

That he was not infenfible to the difficulties of his under- 
taking, we have partly feen, as we have witneffed how his hopes 
fluctuated while he was ftruggling through the arrangements 
for beginning to write his "Ferdinand and Ifabella," and, in fact, 



z The cafe of Thierry — the neareft 
known to me — was different. His great 
work, " Hiftoire de la Conquete de 1'An- 
gleterre par les Normands," was written 
before he became blind. What he pub- 
lifhed afterward was didtated, — wonder- 
ful, indeed, all of it, but efpecially all that 



relates to what he did for the commiflion 
of the government concerning the Tiers 
Etat, to be found in that grand colle&ion 
of " Documents ine'dits fur PHiitoire de 
France," begun under the aufpices and in- 
fluence of M.Guizot, when he was minillcr 
of Louis-Philippe. 



125 

Chap. X. 

1837- 1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42. 



Boldnefs in un- 
dertaking to 
become a 
writer of 
hiftory. 



126 



Chap. X. 

837- 1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42. 



Conftant anxiety 
about his eye- 
fight. 



Life regulated 
with reference 



Rifes early. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



during the whole period of its composition. But he mowed 
the fame character, the fame fertility of refource, every day of 
his life, and provided, both by forecaft and felf-facrifice, againft 
the emb?rrafTments of his condition as they fucceffively pre- 
fented themfelves. 

The flrft thing to be done, and the thing always to be re- 
peated day by day, was to ftrengthen, as much as poffible, what 
remained of his light, and, at any rate, to do nothing that mould 
tend to exhauft its impaired powers. In 1821, when he was 
ftill not without fome hope of its recovery, he made this 
memorandum. " I will make it my principal purpofe to 
reftore my eye to its primitive vigor, and will do nothing habitu- 
ally that can ferioufly injure it." To this end he regulated his 
life with an exactnefs that I have never known equalled. 
Efpecially in whatever related to the daily diftribution of his 
time, whether in regard to his intellectual labors, to his focial 
enjoyments, or to the care of his phyfical powers, including 
his diet, he was feverely exact, — managing himfelf, indeed, 
in this laft refpect, under the general directions of his wife 
medical advifer, Dr. Jackfon, but carrying out thefe directions 
with an ingenuity and fidelity all his own. 

He was an early rifer, although it was a great effort for him 
to be fuch. From boyhood it feemed to be contrary to his 
nature to get up betimes in the morning. He was, therefore, 
always awaked, and after filently, and fometimes flowly and with 
reluctance, counting twenty, fo as fairly to aroufe himfelf, he 
refolutely fprang out of bed ; or, if he failed, he paid a forfeit, 
as a memento of his weaknefs, to the fervant who had knocked 
at his chamber-door. 3 His failures, however, were rare. 
When he was called, he was told the ftate of the weather and 
of the thermometer. This was important, as he was compelled 
by his rheumatifm — almoft always prefent, and, when not 



* When he was a bachelor, the fervant, 
after waiting a certain number of minutes 
at the door without receiving an anfwer, 
went in and took away the bed-clothes. 
This was, at that period, the office of 



faithful Nathan Webfter, who was remem- 
bered kindly in Mr. Prefcott's will, and 
who was for nearly thirty years in the 
family, a true and valued friend of all its 
members. 



Systematic Rxercise. 



prefent, always apprehended — to regulate his drefs with care ; 
and, finding it difficult to do fo in any other way, he caufed 
each of its heavier external portions to be marked by his 
tailor with the number of ounces it weighed, and then put them 
on according to the temperature, fure that their weight would 
indicate the meafure of warmth and protection they would 
afford.* 

As foon as he was dreffed, he took his early exercife in the 
open air. This, for many years, was done on horfeback, and, 
as he loved a fpirited horfe and was often thinking more of 
his intellectual purfuits than of anything elfe while he was 
riding, he fometimes caught a fall. But he was a good rider, 
and was forry to give up this form of exercife and refort 
to walking or driving, as he did, by order of his phyfician, in 
the laft dozen years of his life. No weather, except a fevere 
ftorm, prevented him at any period from thus, as he called it, 
" winding himfelf up." Even in the coldeft of our very cold 
winter mornings, it was his habit, fo long as he could ride, to 
fee the fun rife on a particular fpot three or four miles from 
town. In a letter to Mrs. Ticknor, who was then in Germany, 
dated March, 1836, — at the end of a winter memorable for 
its extreme feverity, — he fays, "You will give me credit for 
fome fpunk when I tell you that I have not been frightened by 
the cold a fingle morning from a ride on horfeback to Jamaica 
Plain and back again before breakfaft. My mark has been to 
fee the fun rife by Mr. Greene's fchool, if you remember where 
that is." When the rides here referred to were taken, the 
thermometer was often below zero of Fahrenheit. 

On his return home, after adjufting his drefs anew, with 
reference to the temperature within doors, he fat down, almoft 
always in a very gay humor, to a moderate and even fpare 
breakfaft, — a meal he much liked, becaufe, as he faid, he 

4 As in the cafe of the ufe of wine, to be exadl on account of the rheumatifm 

hereafter to be noticed, he made, from which, befides almoll conilantly infefting 

year to year, the moft minute memoranda his limbs, always affefted his fight when 

about the ufe of clothes, finding it neceffary it became fevere. 



127 



Chap. X. 

1837- 1838 
JEt. 41 - 42 



Exercife before 
breakfaft. 



Light breakfaft 



128 



Chap. X. 

1837- 1838, 
^Et. 41 - 42 



Forenoon's work, 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



could then have his family with him in a quiet way, and fo 
begin the day happily. From the breakfaft-table he went at 
once to his ftudy. There, while buried with what remained 
of his toilet, or with the needful arrangements for his regular 
occupations, Mrs. Prefcott read to him, generally from the 
morning papers, but fometimes from the current literature of 
the day. At a fixed hour — feldom later than ten — his reader 
or fecretary came. In this, as in everything, he required 
punctuality ; but he noted tardinefs only by looking fignifi- 
cantly at his watch ; for it is the teftimony of all his furviving 
fecretaries, that he never fpoke a fevere word to either of 
them in the many years of their familiar intercourfe. 

When they had met in the ftudy, there was no thought but 
of active work for about three hours. 5 His infirmities, however, 
were always prefent to warn him how cautioufly it muft be 
done, and he was extremely ingenious in the means he devifed 
for doing it without increafing them. The fhades and mut- 
ters for regulating the exact amount of light which mould be 
admitted ; his own pofition relatively to its direct rays, and 
to thofe that were reflected from furrounding objects ; the 
adaptation of his drefs and of the temperature of the room 
to his rheumatic affections ; and the different contrivances 
for taking notes from the books that were read to him, and 
for imprefling on his memory, with the leaft poflible ufe of 
his fight, fuch portions of each as were needful for his im- 
mediate purpofe, — were all of them the refult of painftaking 
experiments, fkilfully and patiently made. But their ingenuity 
and adaptation were lefs remarkable than the confcientious con- 
fiftency with which they were employed from day to day for 
forty years. 



5 I fpeak here of the time during which 
he was bufy with his Hiilories. Jn the 
intervals between them, as, for inflance, 
between the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " 
and the " Mexico," between the " Mex- 
ico " and " Peru," &c, his habits were 
very different. At thefe periods he in- 



dulged, fometimes for many months, in 
a great deal of light, mifcellaneous reading, 
which he ufed to call " literary loafing." 
This he thought not only agreeable, but 
refrefhing and ufeful ; though fometimes 
he complained bitterly of himfelf for car- 
rying his indulgences of this fort too far. 



Uncertain Co7tditio7i of Sight. 



In relation to all fuch arrangements, two circumftances 
mould be noted. 

The firft is, that the reiources of his eye were always very 
fmall and uncertain, except for a few years, beginning in 1840, 
when, from his long-continued prudence or from fome in- 
fcrutable caufe, there feemed to be either an increafe of ftrength 
in the organ, or elfe fuch a diminution of its fenfibility as en- 
abled him to ufe it more, though its ftrength might really be 
diminished. 

Thus, for inftance, he was able to ufe his eye very little in the 
preparation of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," not looking into a 
book fometimes for weeks and even months together, and yet 
occalionally he could read feveral hours in a day if he carefully 
divided the whole into fhort portions, fo as to avoid fatigue. 
While engaged in the compofition of the " Conqueft of Mex- 
ico," on the contrary, he was able to read with confiderable 
regularity, and fo he was while working on the " Conqueft of 
Peru," though, on the whole, with lefs. 6 

But he had, during nearly all this time, another difficulty 
to encounter. There had come on prematurely that gradual 
decay of the eye which is the confequence of advancing 
years, and for which the common remedy is fpeclacles. 
Even when he was ufing what remained to him of light on 
the " Conqueft of Mexico " with a freedom which not a little 
animated him in his purfuits, he perceived this difcouraging 
change. In July, 1841, he fays: "My eye, for fome days, 



6 How uncertain was the flate of his 
eye, even when it was ftrongeft, may be 
feen from memoranda made at different 
times within lefs than two years of each 
other. The firft is in January, 1829, when 
he was full of grateful feelings for an un- 
expected increafe of his powers of fight. 
" By the bleffing of Heaven," he fays, " I 
have been enabled to have the free ufe of 
my eye in the daytime during the lafl: 
weeks, without the exception of a fingle 
day, although deprived, for nearly a fort- 
night, of my accuftomed exercife. I hope 

17 



I have not abufed this great privilege." 
But this condition of things did not laft 
long. Great fluctuations followed. In 
Auguft and September he was much dis- 
couraged by fevere inflammations ; and in 
October, 1830, when he had been flowly 
writing the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " for 
about a year, his fight for a time became 
fo much impaired that he was brought — 
I ufe his own words — " ferioufly to con- 
fider what fteps he fhould take in relation 
to that work, if his fight fhould fail him 
altogether." 



129 



Chap. X. 



1837 - 
JEt. 41 



838. 
-42. 



His eye never to 
be much de- 
pended upon. 



Premature decay 
of its fight. 



13° 



Chap. X. 

1837- 1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42. 



At laft can 
hardly ufe 
it at all. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



feels dim. * I guefs and fear,' as Burns fays." And in June, 
1842, when our families were fpending together at Lebanon 
Springs a few days which he has recorded as otherwife very 
happy, he fpoke to me more than once in a tone of abfolute 
grief, that he mould never again enjoy the magnificent fpeclacle 
of the ftarry heavens. To this fad deprivation he, in fa£t, 
alludes himfelf in his Memoranda of that period, where, in 
relation to his eyes, he fays : " I find a mifty veil increafing over 
them, quite annoying when reading. The other evening 

B faid : ' How beautiful the heavens are with fo many 

ftars !' I could hardly fee two. It made me fad." 

Spectacles, however, although they brought their appropriate 
relief, brought alfo an inevitable inconvenience. They fatigued 
his eye. He could ufe it, therefore, lefs and lefs, or if he ufed 
it at all, beyond a nicely adjufted amount, the excefs was 
followed by a fort of irritability, weaknefs, and pain in the 
organ which he had not felt for many years. This went on 
increafing with fad regularity. But he knew that it was 
inevitable, and fubmitted to it patiently. In the latter part of 
his life he was able to ufe his eye very little indeed for the 
purpofe of reading, — in the laft year, hardly at all. Even in 
feveral of the years preceding, he ufed it only thirty-five minutes 
in each day, divided exactly by the watch into portions of five 
minutes each, with at leaft half an hour between, and always 
flopping the moment pain was felt, even if it were felt at the 
firft inftant of opening the book. I doubt whether a more per- 
il ftent, confcientious care was ever taken of an impaired phyfical 
power. Indeed, I do not fee how it could have been made 
more thorough. But all care was unavailing, and he at laft 
knew that it was fo. The decay could not be arrefted. He 
fpoke of it rarely, but when he perceived that in the evening 
twilight he could no longer walk about the ftreets that were 
familiar to him with his accuftomed aflurance, he felt it 
deeply. Still he perfevered, and was as watchful of what 
remained of his fight as if his hopes of its reftoration had 
continued unchecked. Indeed, I think he always trufted 



Change in the State of the Eye. 



that he was faving fomething by his anxious care ; he always 
believed that great prudence on one day would enable him to 
do a little more work on the next than he mould be able to 
do without fo much caution. 

The other circumftance that mould be noticed in relation 
to the arrangements for his purfuits is, the continually in- 
creafed amount of light he was obliged to ufe, and which he 
could ufe without apparent injury. 

In Bedford Street, where he firft began his experiments, 
he could, from the extreme fenfitivenefs of his eye, bear very 
little light. But, even before he left that quiet old mansion, 
he cut out a new window in his working-room, arranging it fo 
that the light mould fall more ftrongly and more exclusively 
upon the book he might be ufing. This did very well for 
a time. But when he removed to Beacon Street, the room 
he built expreflly for his own ufe contained fix contiguous 
windows ; two of which, though large, were glazed each with a 
fingle meet of the fineft plate-glafs, nicely protected by feveral 
curtains of delicate fabric and of a light-blue color, one or 
more of which could be drawn up over each window to tem- 
per the light, while the whole light that was admitted through 
any one opening could be excluded by folid wooden mutters. 
At firft, though much light was commonly ufed, thefe appli- 
ances for diminishing it were all more or lefs required. But, 
gradually, one after another of them was given up, and, at laft, 
I obferved that none was found important. He needed and 
ufed all the light he could get. 

The change was a fad one, and he did not like to allude to 
it. But during the laft year of his life, after the firft flight 
accefs of paralyfis, which much difturbed the organ for a time 
and rendered its aclion very irregular, he fpoke plainly to me. 
He faid he muft foon ceafe to ufe his eye for any purpofe of 
ftudy, but fondly trufted that he fhould always be able to 
recognize the features of his friends, and fhould never become 
a burden to thofe he loved by needing to be led about. His 
hopes were, indeed, fulfilled, but not without the forrow of 



131 


Chap. X. 


1837 -1838 
JEt. 41 - 42 


Increafed de- 
mand for 
light. 



132 



Chap. X. 

1837 -1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42, 



Always anxious 
to fave his eye. 



Exercife at noon. 



Di. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



all. The day before his fudden death he walked the ftreets as 
freely as he had done for years. 

Still, whatever may have been the condition of his eye at 
any period, — from the fierce attack of 1 8 1 5 to the very end 
of his life, — it was always a paramount fubjecl: of anxiety 
with him. He never ceafed to think of it, and to regulate 
the hours, and almoft the minutes, of his daily life by it. 
Even in its beft eftate he felt that it muft be fpared ; in 
its worft, he was anxious to fave fomething by care and ab- 
ftinence. He faid, " he reckoned time by eyefight, as 
diftances on railroads are reckoned by hours. " 

One thing in this connection may be noted as remarkable". 
He knew that, if he would give up literary labor altogether, 
his eye would be better at once, and would laft longer. His 
phyficians all told him fo, and their opinion was rendered 
certain by his own experience ; for whenever he ceafed to 
work for fome time, as during a vifit to New York in 
1842 and a vifit to Europe in 1850, — in fhort, whenever he 
took a journey or indulged himfelf in holidays of fuch a fort 
as prevented him from looking into books at all or thinking 
much about them, — his general health immediately became 
more vigorous than might have been expected from a relief fo 
tranfient, and his fight was always improved ; fometimes 
materially improved. But he would not pay the price. He 
preferred to fubmit, if it mould be inevitable, to the penalty 
of ultimate blindnefs, rather than give up his literary purfuits. 

He never liked to work more than three hours confecutively. 
At one o'clock, therefore, he took a walk of about two miles, 
and attended to any little bufinefs abroad that was incumbent 
on him, coming home generally refreshed arid exhilarated, and 
ready to lounge a little and goflip. Dinner followed, for the 
greater part of his life about three o'clock, although, during a 
few years, he dined in winter at five or fix, which he preferred, 
and which he gave up only becaufe his health demanded the 
change. In the fummer he always dined early, fo as to have 
the late afternoon for driving and exercife during our hot 
feafon. 



Habits. 



133 



Pleafures of the 
table. 



Careful ufe of 



He enjoyed the pleafures of the table, and even its luxuries, Chap - x - 
more than moft men. But he reftricted himfelf carefully in 1837 -1838 
the ufe of them, adjufting everything with reference to its ^t. 41-42 
effect on the power of ufing his eye immediately afterwards, and 
efpecially on his power of ufing it the next day. Occafional 
indulgence when dining out or with friends at home he found 
ufeful, or at leaft not injurious, and was encouraged in it by his 
medical counfel. But he dined abroad, as he did everything 
of the fort, at regulated intervals, and not only determined be- 
forehand in what he mould deviate from his fettled habits, but 
often made a record of the refult for his future government. 

The moft embarraffing queftion, however, as to diet, regard- 
ed the ufe of wine, w^hich, if at firft it fometimes feemed to be 
followed by bad confequences, was yet, on the whole, found ufe- 
ful, and was prefcribed to him. To make everything certain, 
and fettle the precife point to which he mould go, he inftituted 
a feries of experiments, and between March, 1 8 1 8, and Novem- 
ber, 1820, — a period of two years and nine months, — he re- 
corded the exact quantity of wine that he took every day, 
except the few days when he entirely abftained. It was 
Sherry or Madeira. In the great majority of cafes — four 
fifths, I mould think — it ranged from one to two glaffes, 
but went up fometimes to four or five, and even to fix. He 
fettled, at laft, upon two or two and a half as the quantity beft 
fuited to his cafe, and perfevered in this as his daily habit, until 
the laft year of his life, during which a peculiar regimen was 
impofed upon him from the peculiar circumftances of his health. 
In all this I wifh to be underftood that he was rigorous with 
himfelf, — much more fo than perfons thought who faw him 
only when he was dining with friends, and when, but equally 
upon fyftem and principle, he was much more free. 

He generally fmoked a fingle weak cigar after dinner, and 
liftened at the fame time to light reading from Mrs. Prefcott. 
A walk of two miles — more or lefs — followed; but always 
enough, after the habit of riding was given up, to make the 
full amount of fix miles' walking for the day's exercife, and 



Smokes moder- 
ately. 



134 



Chap. X. 

1837 -1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42 

Evening. 



Goes to bed ear- 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



then, between five and eight, he took a cup of tea, and had his 
reader with him for work two hours more. 

The labors of the day were now definitively ended. He 
came down from his ftudy to his library, and either fat there 
or walked about while Mrs. Prefcott read to him from fome 
amufing book, generally a novel, and, above all other novels, 
thofe of Scott and Mifs Edgeworth. In all this he took great 
folace. He enjoyed the room as well as the reading, and, as he 
moved about, would often flop before the books, — efpecially 
his favorite books, — and be fure that they were all in their 
proper places, drawn up exactly to the front of their refpective 
fhelves, like foldiers on a drefs-parade, — fometimes fpeaking 
of them, and almoft to them, as if they were perfonal friends. 

At half paft ten, having firft taken nearly another glafs of 
wine, he went to bed, fell afleep quickly, and flept foundly and 
well. Suppers he early gave up, although they were a form of 
focial intercourfe much liked in his father's houfe, and common 
thirty or forty years ago in the circle to which he belonged. 
Befides all other reafons againft them, he found that the lights 
commonly on the table mot their horizontal rays fo as to in- 
jure his fuffering organ. Larger evening parties, which were 
not {o liable to this objection, he liked rather for their focial in- 
fluences than for the pleafure they gave him ; but he was feen 
in them to the laft, though rarely and only for a fhort time in 
each. Earlier in life, when he enjoyed them more and flayed 
later, he would, in the coldeft winter nights, after going home, 
run up and down on a plank walk, fo arranged in the garden 
of the Bedford-Street houfe that he could do it with his eyes 
fhut, for twenty minutes or more, in order that his fyftem might 
be refreshed, and his fight invigorated, for the next morning's 
work. 7 Later, unhappily, this was not needful. His eye had 
loft the fenfibility that gave its value to fuch a habit. 



7 Some perfons may think this to have 
been a fancy of my friend, or an over-nice 
eflimate of the value of the open air. But 
others have found the fame benefit who 
needed it lefs. Sir Charles Bell fays, in 
his journal, that he ufed to fit in the open 



air a great deal, and read or draw, becaufe, 
on the following day y he found himfelf fo 
much better able to work. Some of the 
beft paflages in his great treatifes were, he 
fays, written under thefe circumllances. 



Methodical Rxercise. 



In his exercife, at all its affigned hours, he was faithful and 
exact. If a violent ftorm prevented him from going out, 
or if the bright fnow on funny days in winter rendered it dan- 
gerous for him to expofe his eye to its brilliant reflection, he 
would drefs himfelf as for the ftreet and walk vigoroufly 
about the colder parts of the houfe, or he would faw and 
chop fire-wood, under cover, being, in the latter cafe, read to 
all the while. 

The refult he fought, and generally obtained, by thefe efforts 
was not, however, always to be had without fuffering. The 
firft mile or two of his walk often coft him pain — fometimes 
fharp pain — in confequence of the rheumatifm, which feldom 
deferted his limbs ; but he never on this account gave it up ; 
for regular exercife in the open air was, as he well knew, 
indifpenfable to the prefervation of whatever remained of his 
decaying fight. He perfevered, therefore, through the laft 
two fuffering years of his life, when it was peculiarly irkfome 
and difficult for him to move ; and even in the days imme- 
diately preceding his firft attack of paralyfis, when he was 
very feeble, he was out at his ufual hours. His will, in truth, 
was always ftronger than the bodily ills that befet him, and 
prevailed over them to the laft. 8 



8 On one occasion, when he was em- 
ployed upon a work that interefted him, 
becaufe it related to a friend, he was at- 
tacked with pains that made a fitting pof- 
ture impoffible. But he would not yield. 
He took his noftograph to a fofa, and 



knelt before it fo as to be able to continue 
his work. This refource, however, failed, 
and then he laid himfelf down flat upon 
the floor. This extraordinary operation 
went on during portions of nine fucceflive 
days. 




i35 



Chap. X. 

1837- 1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42. 

Exercife uni- 
form and 
exact. 



Pain in motion. 



136 



Chap. XI. 

837-1838, 
JEt. 41 - 42, 

Social fpirit. 



Mr. Gardiner. 



Power of receiv- 
ing pleafure. 



Power of giving 
pleafure. 




CHAPTER XI. 

1837-1838. 




Mr. Prejcotf s Social Charatler. — Remarks on it by Mr. Gardiner and 
Mr. Parfons. 

TRUE and fufficient understanding of Mr. 
Prefcott's modes of life cannot be obtained 
without a more detailed account than has 
been thus far given of his focial relations, and 
of the exaclnefs with which he controlled and 
governed them. 

" Never was there," fays his friend Mr. Gardiner, in an interefting paper 
addrefled to me, on this fide of our friend's character, — " Never was there 
a man, who, by natural conftitution, had a keener zeft of focial enjoyment 
in all its varieties. His friend Mr. Parfons fays of him, that one of the 
1 moft remarkable traits of this remarkable man was his fingular capacity 
of enjoyment. He could be happy in more ways, and more happy in 
every one of them, than any other perfon I have ever known.' This may be 
a ftrong manner of ftating the characteriftic referred to ; but fo far as refpecl:s 
one of his chief fources of happinefs, — focial enjoyment, — the idea would 
feem to be exemplified by the very different kinds of fociety from which he ap- 
peared to derive almoft equal pleafure. 

"So, in regard to his capacity of imparting pleafure to others, Mr. Parfons 
makes an equally ftrong ftatement ; but it is one I fully concur in. 'If I were 
afked,' he fays, ' to name the man, whom I have known, whofe coming was 
moft fure to be hailed as a pleafant event by all whom he approached, I mould 
not only place Prefcott at the head of the lift, but I could not place any other 
man near him.' I alfo muft bear teftimony, that I never have known any 
other man whofe company was fo univerfally attractive, — equally fo to men 
and to women, to young and to old, and to all claffes that he mingled with. 



Social Character. 



" With thefe capacities for both giving and receiving the higheft degree of 
pleafure in focial entertainment, there is no caufe for wonder that this mould 
have been with him a favorite purfuit. The wonder is, rather, that he fhould 
always — at leaft after the firft effervefcence of youth — have kept it in fuch 
perfect: fubordination to thofe more important purfuits which were the bufinefs, 
and at the fame time, on the whole, the higheft enjoyment, of his life. I ufe 
the term purfuit, applying it to the one object no lefs than the other; for this 
it is which conftitutes the peculiarity. Both were purfued at the fame time, 
ardently and fyftematically. Neither was facrificed to the other for any great 
length of time. He felt that a due proportion of each — literary labor and 
focial amufement — was effential to his happinefs, and he ftudied the philofophy 
of life, both theoretically and practically, with reference to his own natural 
temper and constitution, to afcertain in what proportions they could beft be 
combined to anfwer his whole purpofe. 

"Thefe proportions varied certainly at different times. There was a natural 
tendency of the graver purfuits to predominate more and more as he advanced 
in age, but never to the entire exclufion of a perfectly youthful enjoyment of 
whatever fociety he fought. There were, too, periods of clofe retirement, — 
chiefly during his villegiaturas as he ufed to call his country life, — when he 
devoted himfelf, for a time almoft exclufively, to his ftudies and compofitions, 
with little addition to the agreeable focial circle and quiet domeftic life of his 
own and his father's family. But there were alfo correfponding periods of great 
relaxation, — what he ufed to call his ' loafing times,' — not always of fhort 
duration either, — efpecially in the interval between one long labor finifhed and 
the beginning of another. At thefe periods he gave himfelf up to a long 
holiday, dividing his time almoft wholly between the lighteft literature and a 
great deal of focial amufement. There was ufually fomething of this, though 
for a fhorter term, when he firft returned to the city, after a fummer or autumn 
campaign at Pepperell. And feldom, when away from Pepperell, was he fo 
hard at work as not to enjoy an ample allowance of focial pleafure. Nay, at 
the period of his life when he ufed to pafs a long fummer, as well as autumn, 
at Pepperell, — that is, before either he or his father had a houfe on the fea- 
fhore, — it was his cuftom to find an excufe for an occafional vifit of a day or 
two to the city, when he always arranged for, and counted upon, at leaft one gay 
meeting of old friends at the dinner-table. After he became a fummer inhab- 
itant of Nahant, living in the unavoidable publicity of a fafhionable watering- 
place, the difficulty was to guard againft the intrufion of too much company, 
rather than to get the quantum he required. This was among the caufes which 
led him, in later years, to forfake Nahant for his more quiet fea-fhore refidence 
at Lynn. But, wherever his refidence was, frequent recreations of fociety 

— domeftic, fafhionable, literary, and convivial — were as much a part of his 
plan of life as the fteady continuance of hiftorical ftudies and labors of author- 
fhip. 

" Yet, both before and after the publication of his c Ferdinand and Ifabella,' 

— the firft notice, be it remembered, even to his perfonal friends, of his extraor- 
dinary merits as a man of letters, — he was fcrupuloufly obfervant of hours. 

18 



137 



Chap. XI. 

1837- 183! 
JEt. 41 - 42. 



Economy of hap- 
pinefs. 



'Loafing times.' 



i 3 8 



Chap. XI. 

837-1838, 
JEt. 41 - 42, 

Never ran to ex- 
cefs in focial 
pleafures. 



Dinner at a ref- 

taurant. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Though indulging fo freely, and with fuch a zeft, in this round of various 
fociety, he would never allow himfelf to be drawn by it into very late fittings. 
This was partly, no doubt, from domeftic confiderations regarding the general 
habit of his father's houfehold, continued afterwards in his own, but mainly becaufe 
he began the day early, and chofe to keep his ftudy hours of the morrow unimpaired. 
Except, therefore, on fome extraordinary and forefeen occafions of his earlier 
days, carefully arranged for beforehand, he ufed to make a point of quitting the 
company, of whatever kind, and whatever might be its attractions, at his hour. 
This was, for a long time, ten o'clock. It did not mean ten o'clock or there- 
abouts, as moft men would have made it ; but at ten precifely he would infift 
on going, in fpite of all entreaty, as if to an engagement of the laft importance. 
" I remember particularly one inftance to illuftrate this. It occurred at fome 
time while he was yet a member of his father's family, but, I think, after his 
marriage, and certainly before he had publifhed himfelf to the world as an author, 
— that is, while he was fcarcely known to many perfons as one engaged in any 
ferious occupation. The cafe left an impremon, becaufe on this occafion Mr. 
Prefcott, though not in his own houfe, was not a gueft, but the entertainer, at a 
reftaurateur's, of an invited company of young men, chiefly of the bon-vivant 
order. He took that mode fometimes of giving a return dinner to avoid intrud- 
ing too much on the hofpitality of his father's roof, as well as to put at eafe the 
fort of company which promifed exuberant mirth. His dinner hour was fet 
early ; purpofely, no doubt, that all might be well over in good feafon. But it 
proved to be a prolonged feftivity. Under the brilliant aufpices of their hoft, 
who was never in higher fpirits, the company became very gay, and not at all 
difpofed to abridge their gayety, even after a reafonable number of hours. As 
the hour of ten drew near, I noticed that Prefcott was beginning to get a little 
fidgety, and to drop fome hints, which no one feemed willing to take, — for no 
one prefent, unlefs it were myfelf, was aware that time was of any more im- 
portance to our hoft than it was to many of his guefts. Pfefently, to the 
general furprife, the hoft himfelf got up abruptly, and addrefled the company 
nearly as follows : ' Really, my friends, I am very forry to be obliged to tear 
myfelf from you at fo very unreafonable an hour ; but you feem to have got 
your fitting-breeches on for the night. I left mine at home, and muft go. But 
I am fure you will be very foon in no condition to mifs me, — efpecially as 
I leave behind that excellent reprefentative,' — pointing to a bafket of feveral 
yet uncorked bottles, which flood in a corner. c Then you know,' he added, 
' you are juft as much at home in this houfe as I am. You can call for what 
you like. Don't be alarmed, — I mean on my account. I abandon to you, with- 
out referve, all my beft wine, my credit with the houfe, and my reputation to 
boot. Make free with them all, I beg of you, — and, if you don't go home till 
morning, I wifti you a merry night of it.' With this he was off, and the Old 
South clock, hard by, was heard to ftrike ten at the inftant." 

Mr. Gardiner, in the preceding remarks, refers more than 
once to the opinions of ProfefTbr Theophilus Parfons on Mr. 



Social Character. 



139 



Prefcott's focial character. They are contained in a paper 
which this early and intimate friend of the hiftorian was good 
enough to give me ; but there are other portions of the fame 
paper fo true, and fo happily exprerTed, that I mould be unjuft 
to my readers, if I were not to give them more than the 
glimpfes afforded in Mr. Gardiner's remarks. 

Speaking of Mr. Prefcott's " marvellous popularity," Mr. 
Parfons goes on : — 

u I do not fpeak of this as his fuccefs in focietv, for that would imply that he 
fought for popularity and aimed at it, and this would be wholly untrue. It was 
not perhaps undefired, and it certainly was neither unknown nor unwelcome to 
him. But it came, not becaufe he made any effort to procure it, but fimply 
becaufe it was inevitable, by which I mean that it was the necelTary efFect of the 
combination of certain qualities in his character. Foremoft among thefe, un- 
doubtedly, was his uniyerfal, conftant, and extreme kindnefs of heart, and its 
fitting exponent in as fweet a temper as eyer man had. But eyen thefe would 
not haye fufficed, but for his capacity for fympathy, a quality which is not 

always the companion of a real beneyolence If Prefcott neyer demanded 

or defired that others mould ftand around and bow to him, it was not becaufe he 
could haye no reafon for claiming this. For all whom he came near felt, what 
he never feemed to feel, that there was, if not fome renunciation of right, at 
leaft a charming forgetfulnefs of felf, in the way in which he afTerted no 
fuperiority over any, but gave himfelf up to the companion of the moment, with 
the evident defire to make him as happy as he could. And his own prompt and 
active fympathy awoke the fympathy of others. His gayetv became theirs. He 
came, always bringing the gift of cheerfulnefs, and always offering it with fuch 
genuine cordiality, that it was fure to be accepted, and returned with increafe. 
No wonder that he was juft as welcome everywhere as funfhine. If I were afked 
to name the man whom I have known, whofe coming was moft fure to be hailed 
as a pleafant event by all whom he approached, I mould not only place Prefcott 
at the head of the lift, but I could not place any other man near him. And with 
all this univerfal fvmpathy there was never any facrifice or lofs of himfelf. He did 
not go willingly to others becaufe his mind had no home of its own. When we 
fee one feeking fociety often, and enjoying it with peculiar relifh, we can hardly 
forbear thinking that he thus comes abroad to find neceffary recreation, and that, 
even if he be content at home, his jovs are elfewhere. Nothing could be lefs 
true of Prefcott. It would have been equally difficult for one who knew him 
only in his home activities and his home happinefs, or only in the full glow of 
his focial pleafures, to believe that he knew but half of the man, and that the 
other half was quite as full of its own life, and its own thorough enjoyment, as 
the half he faw." 



Chap. XI. 

1837 -1838. 
JEt. 41 - 42. 



Mr. Parfons. 



Prefcott's popu- 
larity. 



140 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Temptations of 
his pofition in 
life. 




CHAPTER XII. 

1837- 

Mr. Prefcotf s Induftry and general Character bajed on Principle and on 
Self-Jacrifice. — Temptations. — Expedients to overcome them. — Exper- 
iments. — Notes of what is read to him. — Compqfes without Writing. 
— Severe Difcipline of his Moral and Religious Char abler. — Di/likes 
to have his Habits interfered^ with. — Never /hows Conftraint. — Free- 
dom of Manner in his Family and in Society. — His Influence on others. — 
His Charity to the Poor. — Inftance of it. 

R. PRESCOTT early difcovered what many, 
whofe focial pofition makes no fevere demand 
on them for exertion, fail to difcover until it 
is too late, — I mean, that induftry of fome 
fort and an earneft ufe of whatever faculties 
God has given us, are effential to even a mod- 
erate amount of happinefs in this world. He did not, how- 
ever, come to this conclufion through his relations with fociety. 
On the contrary, thefe relations during the moft expofed period 
of his youth were tempting him in exactly the oppofite direc- 
tion, and thus rendering his pofition dangerous to his character. 
He was handfome, gay, uncommonly entertaining, and a great 
favorite wherever he went. The accident to his fight obvioufly 
excluded him from the profeflions open to perfons of his own 
age and condition, and his father's fortune, if not great, was at 
leaft fuch as to relieve the fon, with whofe misfortune his 




Industry on Principle. 



whole family felt the tenderer!: fympathy, from the neceffity 
of devoting himfelf to any occupation as a means of fubfiftence. 
A life of dainty, elegant idlenefs was, therefore, as freely open 
to him as it was to any young man of his time, and his infirm- 
ities would no doubt have excufed him before his friends and 
the world, if he had given himfelf up to it. His perfonal 
relations, in fad:, no lefs than his keen reliih of focial enjoy- 
ments and his attractive qualities as a mere man of fociety, all 
feemed to folicit him to a life of felf-indulgence. 

But he perceived betimes that fuch a life would be only 
one long miftake, — that it might fatisfy the years of youth, 
when the fpirits are frefh, and the purfuit of pleafure has been 
checked neither by forrow nor by difappointment, but that it 
muft leave the graver period of manhood without its appro- 
priate interefts, and old age without its appropriate refpecl:. 
" It is of little moment," he therefore recorded, for his own 
warning and government, as early as 1822, — " it is of little 
moment whether I fucceed in this or that thing, but it is of 
great moment that I am habitually induftrious." This con- 
clufion was reached by him three years before he began his 
fearch for a fubjec~t to which he could devote ferious and confecu- 
tive labor. But it was eight years after the occurrence of the 
accident that had (hut him out from the field of adventure 
in which moft of thofe who had been his companions and 
friends were already advancing and profperous. 1 

And thefe eight years had been full of filent, earneft 
teachings. The darknefs in which he had fo often been 
immured for weeks and months together had given him 
leifure for thoughts which might otherwife never have come 
to him, or which would have come with much lefs power. 
Notwithstanding his exuberant fpirits, he had fuffered hours of 
ennui, which, in a free and aclive life, and amidft the pleafures 

1 The fame thought is often repeated in life. " I am convinced," he fays, " that, 
his Memoranda, but nowhere in itronger whether clairvoyant or ftone-blind, intcl- 
terms than in a paper written twenty-feven le&ual occupation — fteady, regular liter- 
years later, and mowing that he adhered ary occupation — is the only true vocation 
to his conviction on the fubjecl: through forme, — indifpenfablc to my happinefs." 



I 4 I 



Chap. XII, 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Early determines 
to refift the 
temptations of 
his condition. 



142 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 

Refolves on a 
life of labor. 



1 Does not love 
work. 



But determines 
to work. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



of fociety, would have been fpared to him. The refult, there- 
fore, to which he was brought by the workings of his own 
mind, was, that, to be happy, he muft lead a life of continuous, 
ufeful induftry, — fuch an induftry as he would at laft enjoy 
if it were faithfully perfifted in, and if it tended to the benefit 
of others. 

We have feen how ingenious he was in inventing for himfelf 
the mechanical contrivances indifpenfable to the labor and 
ftudy on which, with his imperfect fight, he io much depended. 
But there was another obftacle in his way of a different fort, 
and one ftill more difficult and difagreeable to encounter. He 
did not love work. He could do it, and had done it often, but 
only under fome ftrong ftimulus. He had, for inftance, com- 
monly learned his leffons well in boyhood, becaufe he refpected 
Dr. Gardiner, and was fure to have been punifhed, if he had 
neglected them. At college, he confidered a certain moderate 
amount of fcholarfhip neceflary to the character of a gentle- 
man, and came up to his own not very high ftandard with a 
good degree of alacrity. And he had always defired to fatisfy 
and gratify his father, whofe authority he felt to be gentle as 
well as juft, and whofe wifhes were almoft always obeyed, even 
in his earlier and more thoughtlefs years. But the prefent pur- 
pofe of his life demanded a different foundation from all this, 

— one much deeper and much more folid. He was now to 
be a fcholar, and to work not only faithfully, but gladly, 

— almoft difintereftedly ; for without fuch work, as he 
well knew, no permanent and worthy refult could be ob- 
tained, — no ultimate intellectual fuccefs achieved. " Be oc- 
cupied always" he therefore recorded firmly at the outfet of 
his new life. 

But his nature — buoyant, frolicfome, and fimple-hearted 

— and his temperament — ftrong, active, and wilful — long con- 
tended againft his wife determination. While he was engaged 
with his French and Italian ftudies, he did not, indeed, find 
induftry difficult ; for fuch ftudies were both pleafant and light. 
But when they were over, and he was perfuaded that German 



Difficttlt to be Industrious. 



H3 



i8 37 . 

JEt. 41. 

Difficulties. 



Refolut 



was inacceffible to him, his exertions relaxed. " I have read \ Chap - XII. 

with no method, and very little diligence or fpirit, for three 

months," he faid in 1824. "To the end of my life, I truft, 

I fhall be more avaricious of time, and never put up with a 

fmaller average than feven hours of intellectual occupation per 

diem. Lefs than that cannot difcharge my duties to mankind, 

fatisfy my own feelings, or give me a rank in the community of 

letters." But a few months afterwards he finds it needful to 

adopt new relblutions of reform. He complains bitterly that he 

"really works lefs than an hour a day," and determines that it 

(hall at any rate be five hours, — a determination, however, which 

he makes only to be mortified again and again, that he can, 

with much effort, hardly come up to three or four. And fo it 

went on for two years of alternating ftruggles and failures. Even 

after he had entered on the compofition of the "Ferdinand and 

Ifabella," it was not much better. The habit of induftry in- 

difpenfable to fuccefs was hard to be acquired. Refolutions, 

fuch as he had been long in the habit of making, but which, 

from their nature, mould rather have been called good pur- 

pofes, would not do it. He broke them continually. Some 

other expedient, therefore, — one more abfolute and of more 

ftringent authority, — muft be reforted to, or he muft fail. 2 

A good deal annoyed with himfelf, he turned to what had 
earlier been a favorite mode of compelling himfelf to keep 
his own good refolutions, — I mean a fyftem of pecuniary 
mulcts and penalties. In college, he began this practice, which 
he continued through his whole life, by puniming himfelf 
with a moderate fine, to be paid, after certain neglects or 
offences, to fome charity. But this had not quite enough of the 
effential character of punifhment in it, fince he was liberally 
; fupplied with money, and loved to give it away almoft as well 
! as his mother did. He therefore adopted another mode, that 

2 There is a charatteriftic allufion to ended the lad book with a good refolution. 

this frailty in his notice of a good relblu- I fhall never be too old to make them. 

tion which he made at the end of one of See if I fhall ever be old enough to keep 

his memorandum books, and to which he them." 
refers in the firil words of the next : " I 



Penalties for 
idlenefs. 



i 4 4 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Wagers. 



Pecuniary bond 
to Mr. Eng- 
liih. 



Mr. English's ac- 
count of it. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



proved a little more effectual. He made bets, of fome con- 
fequence, with fuch of his college friends as would take them, 
to the effect that he would avoid or would do certain things, 
in relation to which he was fure he mould be mortified to have 
them know he had failed. But it was a whimfical peculiarity 
of thefe bets, to be on fuch fubjects, or in fuch forms, that 
commonly nobody but himfelf could know whether he had 
loft or won. The decifion was left to his own honor. It 
mould be added, therefore, that, as fuch bets were made wholly 
for his own improvement, he was never at this period known 
to exact a forfeit when his adverfary had loft. He confidered 
his fuccefs as his true winning, and had no wifh that any- 
body mould be punifhed for it. He defired only to punifh 
himfelf, and therefore, when he had loft, was fure to pro- 
claim himfelf the lofer and pay the bet. When he had won, 
he faid nothing. 

It was to this laft form of ftimulus or punifhment, there- 
fore, that he reforted, when he found his induftry in relation 
to the compofition of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " not only 
flagging, but fo ferioufly falling off that he began to be alarmed 
for the final refult. In September, 1828, he gave a bond to 
Mr. Englifh, then acting as his reader and fecretary, to pay 
him a thoufand dollars, if, within one year from that date, he 
had not written two hundred and fifty pages of his hiftory, 
" the object being," as he faid, " to prevent further vacillation 
until he had written io much as would fecure his. intereft in 
going through with it." He did not incur the penalty, and 
thirteen years afterwards he recorded his conviction that the 
arrangement had been wife. " I judged right," he faid, " that, 
when I had made fo large an inveftment of time and labor, 
I mould not flag again." 

But Mr. Englifh's account of the affair is more minute, and 
is not a little curious as an expreflion of Mr. Prefcott's 
character. 

"The bond or agreement made," he writes to me, u bound each of 
us to take from the other the amount Mr. Prefcott mould himfelf decide to be 



Bond and Penalties. 



HS 



won on certain wagers written by himfelf and fealed up. I never faw them, and 
do not, to this day, know the fubjecl: of the bets. I took his word that they I 
were made to gratify fome fancy of his own, and that they were fo proportioned i 
that the odds were much in my favor, — for inftance, that he rifked in the pro- 
portion of one hundred to my twenty. This contract, I fuppofe, continued to 
his death ; at any rate, he never notified me that it had ceafed. He often 
added new wagers, or increafed the amount of the old ones, as we have written 
our fignatures with frefh dates over and over again on the bottom and margins 
of the fheets at numerous times fince 1831,3 down to within a few years of his 
death. He would bring the paper to my ofHce fo folded that I could not read 
what was written in it, and, with a fmile, afk me to fign again. I always did 
fo at his requeft, without knowing what I figned, having the moft implicit con- 
fidence that it was only a harmlefs affair, and leaving it wholly to him to decide 
whether I loft or won. I remember his paying me two winnings, — one, feveral 
years ago, of twenty or thirty dollars, — the other, fomewhere about ten years 
ago, of one hundred. He afterwards called on me to pay a lofs of twenty or 
thirty, I forget which. He would come into my office with a fmile, lay 
down his money, and fay, c You remember that bond ? you have won that,' 
and go out with a laugh. On the other occafion, c You have loft this time, 
and muft pay me twenty or thirty dollars,' whichever it was. I handed him the 
money without remark. He laughed and faid, that, on the whole, I was in 
pocket fo far, but he could not tell, how it would be next time, and went out 
without anything more faid on either fide." 

This document is loft, but another, not unlike it, and, what 
is remarkable, made with another friend, while the firft bond 
was yet in full force, is preferved, and is very minute and 
ftringent. Both prove that work was often painfully unwel- 
come to him, even when he had been long accuftomed to it, 
and that not unfrequently, in order to roufe himfelf to a 
proper exertion of his faculties, he was willing to call in the 
aid of fome foreign, direct ftimulus. And this he did from a 
deliberate perfuafion that it was a duty he owed to himfelf, to 
employ the talents that had been given to him "as ever in the 
great Tafkmafter's eye.' , His literary memoranda afford abun- 
dant proof of this. Indeed, they are throughout a fort of 
monument of it, for they were made in a great degree to 
record his fhortcomings, and to ftimulate his uncertain induftry. 
They contain many fcores of phrafes, like thefe, fcattered over 

* In 1 83 1, Mr. Englifh ceafed to aft as Mr. Prefcott's fecretary. 
'9 



Chap. XII. 



JEt. 41, 



146 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 

Complaints of 
himfelf. 



His literary 
memoranda. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



above twenty years of the moft active and important part of 
his life. 

"I have worked lazily enough, latterly, or, rather, have been too lazy to work 
at all. — Ended the old year [1834] very badly. The laft four weeks 
abfolute annihilation. — Another three months, fince the laft entry, and 
three months of dolce far niente. Not fo dolce either. Fortunately for the 
good economy and, progrefs of the fpecies, activity — activity, mental or 
phyfical — is indifpenfable to happinefs." 

On another occafion, after enumerating the work he had 
done during the preceding fix months, he fays : — 

" There is the fum total of what I have done in this dizzy-pated winter, 
which has left me in worfe health and fpirits, and with lefs to mow in any 
other way, than any paft winter for ten years, — nay, twenty, — proh pudor /" 

And again, in 1845 : — 

" I find it as hard to get under way as a crazy hulk that has been hauled 
up for repairs. But I will mend, and, that I may do fo, will make heb- 
domadal entries of my lazinefs. I think I can't ftand the repetition of fuch 
records long." 

But the very next week, in reference to the " Conqueft of 
Peru," which he was then writing, he fays : — 

" Horrefco referens ! I have actually done nothing fince laft entry 

If I can once get in harnefs and at work, I fhall do well enough. But 
my joints are ftifT, I think, as I grow old. So, to give myfelf a ftart, 
I have made a wager with Mr. Otis, 4 that I will reel off" at leaft one 
page per diem, barring certain contingencies. If I can't do this, it muft be 
a gone cafe, and Pizarro may look to have his mifdeeds mown up by a bet- 
ter pen." 

No doubt, in thefe pafTages of his private memoranda, and 
in many more, both earlier and later, of the fame fort, there 
is high coloring. But it was intentional. The main object of 
the whole record for nearly forty years was to ftimulate his 
induftry, and to prevent himfelf from relapiing into the idle- 
nefs, or into the light and pleafant occupations, that conftantly 

4 Mr. Edmund B. Otis, who was then a&ing as his fecretary. 



Notes from Books. 



H7 



Diflike of work 



tempted him from his proper ftudies. As he intimates in the Chap. XII 
laft extract, when he was well entered on a fubjecT: and the 1837. 
impetus was obtained, he. generally enjoyed his work, and felt! JEt - 4 1 
the happinefs and peace of confcience which he knew he could 
get in no other way. But the difficulty was, to obtain the 
impetus. After finifhing one work, he did not like to begin 
another, and, even when he had completed a fingle chapter, 
he was often unwilling to take up the next. When he moved 
from the town to the country, or from the country to the 
town, he did not naturally or eafily fall into his ufual train of 
occupations. In fhort, whenever there was a paufe, he wanted 
to turn afide into fome other path, rather than to continue 
in the difficult one right before him ; but he very rarely went 
far affray, before he had the courage to punifh himfelf and 
come back. 

But, befides being intended for a rebuke to the idle and 
light-hearted tendencies of his nature, his Memoranda were 
defigned to record the various experiments he made to over- 
come the peculiar difficulties in his way, and thus affift him to 
encounter others more fuccefsfully. Some of thefe bear the 
fame marks of ingenuity and adaptation which characterized 
his mechanical contrivances for fparing his fight, and were near 
akin to them. 

The notes that were taken from the books read to him, or 
which he was able to read himfelf, were made with very great 
care. They varied in their character at different periods, 
going more into detail at firft than they did later. But they 
were always ample, abundant. I have now before me above a 
thoufand pages of them, which yet cover only a fmall portion 
of the ground of "Ferdinand and Ifabella." From thefe, and 
fimilar maffes of manufcript, were felecfed, when they were 
wanted, fuch materials and hints as would fuit the purpofe of 
any given chapter or diviiion of the work that might be in 
hand, and thefe again were tranfcribed by themfelves, in a 
very plain hand, for ufe. If his eye ferved him tolerably 
well, he read fuch of thefe felecfed notes as were moil im- 



His notes for 
work. 



i 4 8 



Chap. XII. 
JEt. 41. 



How he cora- 
pofed in his 
memory. 



William Hicklin? Prescott. 



portant, with great care, repeatedly, until he felt himfelf to be 
abfolute mafter of their contents. If they were not fo im- 
portant, they were read to him, rarely lefs than fix times, — 
generally more, — "fome," he fays, " a dozen times," — fo that 
he might not only comprehend their general fcope, but be able 
to judge of any varieties involved in their feparate ftatements, 
whether of opinion or of facl. 

When he had thus collected all needful materials, he began 
the talk of compofition in his memory, — very difficult from 
the detail into which it was neceffarily carried, and from the 
exactnefs that was to be obferved in each ftep as he advanced. 
Of its value and importance he was early aware, and, as 
he gradually furmounted the peculiar embarraffments it pre- 
fented, he relied on it more and more exclufively, until at 
laft he attained an extraordinary power in its ufe and ap- 
plication. 

In 1824, he faid, that, before compofing anything, he found 
it necefiary "to ripen the fubjecl by much reflection in his 
mind." This, it will be remembered, was when he had 
not even begun his preliminary Spanifh ftudies, and had, in 
fact, hazarded nothing more ferious than an article for the 
" North American Review." But, as foon as he had entered 
on the compofition of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," he felt 
fully its great importance and wide confequences. Within a 
fortnight, he recorded : " Never take up my pen, until I have 
travelled over the fubjed: fo often, that I can write almoft from 
memory." It was really defirable to write, not almoft, but 
altogether, from memory. He labored, therefore, long for it, 
and fucceeded, by great and continuous efforts, in obtaining 
the much-coveted power. " Think concentratedly," he fays, 
" when I think at all." And again, " Think clofely, gradually 
concentrating the circle of thought." 5 At laft, in 1841, when 

5 Again, November 10, 1839, ne re " attempt to overlook my nottographs ; very 

cords: "Think continuoufly and clofe- trying to the eye. If I would enjoy com- 

ly before taking up my pen ; make the pofition, write well, and make progrefs, I 

corrections chiefly in my own mind ; not muit. give my whole foul to it, fo as not 



Composition in his Memory. 



he was employed on the " Mexico," he records, after many 
previous memoranda on the fubjecl: : " My way has lately 
been to go over a large mafs, — over and over, till ready 
to throw it on paper." And the next year, 1842, he fays: 
" Concentrate more refolutely my thoughts the firft day of 
meditation, — going over and over, — thinking once before 
going to bed, or in bed, or before riling, — prefer the lat- 
ter. And after one day of chewing the cud mould be [i. e. 
ought to be] ready to write. It was three days for this chap- 
ter,"— [" Conqueft of Mexico," Book V., Chapter II.] Some- 
times it was longer, but, in general, a fingle whole day, or 
two or three evenings, with the hours of his exercife in rid- 
ing or walking, were found to be fufficient for fuch careful 
meditation. 6 

The refult was remarkable — almoft incredible — as to the 
maffes he could thus hold in a fort of abeyance in his mind, 
and as to the length of time he could keep them there, and 
confider and reconfider them without confufion or wearinefs. 
Thus, he fays that he carried in his memory the firft and 
fecond chapters of the fifth book of the " Conqueft of Peru," 
and ran over the whole ground feveral times before beginning 
to write, although thefe two chapters fill fifty-fix pages of 
printed text ; and he records the fame thing of chapters fifth, 
fixth, and feventh, in the fecond book of " Philip the Second," 



I49 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 

Concentration of 
mind. 



to know the prefence of another in the 
room; going over the work again and again 
(not too faftidious, nor formal) ; thinking 
when walking and dre fling, &c. ; and not 
too fcrupulous, hefitating in my final cor- 
rections. It is a fhame and a fin to 
wafte time on mere form. Have been 
very contented and happy here [Pep- 
perell] ; fine weather, and pleafing oc- 
cupation." 

6 In preparing Chapter III. of the In- 
troduction to the " Conquell of Peru," — 
about thirty printed pages, — he records 
that, after having done all the neceflary 
reading, he fludied five days on the mem- 
oranda he had made, reflected on them one 



day more, and then gave four days to writ- 
ing the text, and five to writing the notes. 
Gibbon, too, ufed to compofe in his mind ; 
but it was in a very different way, and 
with very different reiults. He prepared 
only a paragraph at a time, and that he 
did, as he fays, in order " to try it by the 
ear." (Mifc. Works, 1814, Vol. I. p. 
230.) I think the effett of this loud 
recital of his work to himfelf is plain 
in the well-known cadence of his fen- 
tences. Mr. Prefcott never, fo far as I 
know, repeated his chapters aloud. His 
mental repetition was generally done 
when he was riding, or walking, or driv- 
ing. 



Large mafles 
that he could 
hold in his 
memory. 



ISO 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Writing out by 
the nodto- 
graph, and 
copying. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



which make together feventy-two pages, and on which he was 
employed fixty-two days. 7 

He frequently kept about fixty pages in his memory for 
feveral days, and went over the whole mafs five or fix times, 
moulding and remoulding the fentences at each fuccerlive 
return. But this power did not remain in full vigor to the 
laft. When he was writing the third volume of " Philip the 
Second," he found that he could not carry more than about 
forty pages in his mind at once, and fpoke to me of it as a fad 
failure of memory, which, no doubt, it was in one point of 
view, although, in another, it can be regarded only as an ex- 
preflion of the furprifing power at one time reached by a fac- 
ulty which in its decline was ftill fo marvellous. But, what- 
ever might be the amount that he had thus prepared in his 
mind, he went over it five or fix times, as a general rule, — 
fometimes more, — and once, at leaft, he did it, for a fingle 
chapter, fixteen times, — an inftance of patient, untiring labor 
for which it will not be eafy to find a parallel. 8 

Writing down by the help of his apparatus what had been 
fo carefully prepared in his memory was a rapid and not dif- 
agreeable operation, efpecially in the compofition of his "Con- 
queft of Mexico," and of his later works, when the habit of 
doing it had become fixed and comparatively eafy. As the 
meets were thrown off, the fecretary deciphered and copied 



7 His words are : " The batch — all 
run over in my mind feveral times, from 
beginning to end, before writing a word — 
has been got out, reading, thinking, and 
writing, in fixty-two days." 

8 Dionyfius of HalicarnafTus (De Com- 
pofitione Verborum, Ed. Schaefer, 1808, 
p. 406) fays, that Plato continued to cor- 
rect and polifh the flyle of his Dialogues 
when he was eighty years old. 'O de 
nXdrcov tovs eavrov diahoyovs Krh-tfav ko\ 
(3oaTpvx'-C a>v Kai Trdvra rporrov dvcmXeKcov ov 
diiXnreu oydorjKovra yeyovas err). See, also, 
the well-confidered remarks on a careful 
revifion of ftyle by good writers of all ages, 
in the twenty-nril of Mr. G. P. Marin's 



Lectures on the Englifh Language (New 
York, i860), — a book full of rich, origi- 
nal thought and painftaking, confcientious 
inveiligation. " Literary biography," he 
fays, " furnifhes the moft abundant proofs, 
that, in all ages, the works which Hand 
as types of language and compofition have 
been of flow and laborious production, and 
have undergone the moll careful and re- 
peated revifion and emendation." This, 
I have no doubt, is what Dionyfius meant, 
when he faid that Plato did not ceafe to 
comb and curl and braid the locks of his 
Dialogues, even when he was eighty years 
old, — an odd figure of fpeech, but a very 
fignificant one. 



Revision of his Writings. 



151 



JEt. 41. 



Very careful re 
vifion. 



them in a large round hand, — and then they were laid afide, j Chap. xii. 
generally for fome months, or even longer, that the fubjecl: might | 1837. 
cool in the author's mind, and the imperfections of its treat- 
ment become, in confequence, more readily apparent to him. 
At the end of this period, or whenever the time for a final 
revifion had come, he chofe the hours or the minutes in each 
day — for they were often only minutes — when his eye 
would permit him to read the manufcript himfelf, and then he 
went over it with extreme care. This he held to be an im- 
portant procefs, and never, I think, trufted it wholly to the ear. 
Certainly he never did fo, if he could poffibly avoid it. He 
believed that what was to be read by the eye of another 
mould be, at leaft once, feverely revifed by the eye of its 
author. 

As the proof-meets came from the prefs, his friend Mr. Fol- 
fom corrected them, fuggefting, at the fame time, any emen- 
dations or improvements in the ftyle that might occur to him, 
with the freedom of an old friendfhip, as well as with the fkill 
and tafte of a well-praclifed criticifm ; and then, the author 
having himfelf paffed judgment upon the fuggeftions thus of- 
fered to him, and having taken fuch as he approved, — rarely 
more than one third, or even one fifth, — the whole was de- 
livered to the unchanging ftereotype. 9 

This procefs, from the firft breaking ground with inquiries 
into the fubjecl: to the final yielding of the completed work to 
the prefs, was, no doubt, very elaborate and painftaking ; but 
it feems to me that it was Angularly adapted to the peculiar 
difficulties and embarraflments of Mr. Prefcott's cafe, and I do 



9 Mr. Folfom — who had known him 
from the period of his college life — made 
before the American Academy, foon after 
his friend's death, fome very graceful and 
appropriate remarks on his modes of com- 
pofition, with which his " Cambridge 
Aldus," as Prefcott was wont to call Mr. 
Folfom, was efpecially familiar. On the 
fame occafion, other more general, but not 
lefs intereiling, remarks on his life and 



character were made by the Rev. Dr. 
George E. Ellis of Charleftown, the 
Hon. Charles G. Loring of Boilon, and 
Profeffor Theophilus Parfons of Harvard 
College, — the laft two, like Mr. Fol- 
fom, members of the Club to which 
Mr. Prefcott fo many years belonged. 
See the " Proceedings of the American 
Academy of Arts and Sciences," Vol. 
IV. pp. 149-163. 



Mr. Folfom's 
corrections. 



The whole pro- 
cefs elaborate 



152 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Its teachings. 



His moral fuper- 
vifion of his 
own charac- 
ter. 



Record of faults 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



not fuppofe that in any other way he could have accomplifhed 
fo much, or have done it fo well. But, whether this were fo 
or not, the great labor it implied, added to the unceafing care 
he was compelled to practife for forty years, in order to pro- 
ted: his health, and preferve and prolong the failing powers of 
the fingle eye that remained to him, fo as to enable him to 
purfue the minute hiftorical inveftigations which feemed to be 
forbidden by the conditions of his life, is a very extraordinary 
fpectacle. It is, no lefs, one full of instruction to thofe who 
think that a life without ferious occupation can be juftified, 
either by the obstacles or the temptations it may be called to 
encounter. 

But there is another fide of his character, which mould not 
be left out of view, and yet one which I cannot approach ex- 
cept with mifgiving ; I mean that which involves the moral 
and religious elements of his nature. Of thefe, fo far as a 
belief in Chriftianity is concerned, and a confcientious and re- 
peated examination of its authority as a revelation, I have 
already fpoken. His life, too, devoted to hard labor, — often 
phyfically painful, — with the prevalent idea not only of cul- 
tivating his own faculties, and promoting his own improve- 
ment, but of fulfilling his duties towards his fellow-men, was 
necefiarily one of conftant, careful difcipline. But, behind all 
this, and deeper than all this, lay, as its foundation, his watch- 
fulnefs over his moral and religious character, its weaknerTes and 
its temptations. 

With thefe he dealt, to a remarkable degree, in the fame way, 
and on the fame fyftem, which he applied to his phyfical health 
and his intellectual culture. He made a record of everything 
that was amifs, and examined and confidered and ftudied that 
record conftantly and confcientioufly. It was written on fepa- 
rate flips of paper, — done always with his own hand, — feen 
only by his own eye. Thefe flips he preferved in a large 
envelope, and kept them in the moft referved and private 
manner. From time to time, when his fight permitted, — 
and generally on Sunday, after returning from the morning 



Record of Faults. 



fervice, — he took them out and looked them over, one by one. 
If any habitual fault were, as he thought, eradicated, he 
deftroyed the record of it ; if a new one had appeared, he 
entered it on its fep?rate flip, and placed it with the reft for 
future warning and reproof. This habit, known only to the 
innermoft circle of thofe who lived around his heart, was per- 
fevered in to the laft. After his death the envelope was found, 
marked, as it was known that it would be, " To be burnt." 
And it was burnt. No record, therefore, remains on earth of 
this remarkable felf-difcipline. But it remains in the memory 
of his beautiful and pure life, and in the books that mail be 
opened at the great day, when the thoughts of all hearts mail 
be made manifeft. 

Probably to thofe who knew my friend only as men com- 
monly know one another in fociety, and even to the many 
who knew him familiarly, thefe accounts of his private habits 
and careful felf-difcipline may be unexpected, and may feem 
ftrange. But they are true. The foundations of his character 
were laid as deep as I have defcribed them, — the vigilance 
over his own conduct was as ftrict. But he always delired to 
have as little of this feen as poffible. He detefted all pretence 
and cant. He made no prefumptuous claims to the virtues 
which everybody, who knew him at all, knew he pofTefTed. 
He did not, for inftance, like to fay that he acted in any 
individual cafe from " a fenfe of duty." He avoided that par- 
ticular phrafe, as he more than once told me he did, and as I 
know his father had done before him, becaufe it is fo often 
ufed to hide mean or unworthy motives. I am pretty fure 
that I never heard him ufe it, and on one occafion, when a 
perfon for whom he had much regard was urging him to do 
fomething which, after all, could only end in focial pleafures 
for both of them, and added as an ultimate argument, " But 
can't you make a duty of it ? " — he repeated the words to me 
afterwards with the heartieft difguft. But, during his riper 
years, nobody, I think, ever faw anything in him which con- 
tradicted the idea that he was governed by high motives. It 
20 



153 

Chap. XII. 

.837. 
JEt. 41. 



Makes no pre- 
tentions to 
goodnefs. 



154 



: HA p. xii. 

1837. 

JEt. 41. 



His induftrylong 
unknown. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Very fenfitive. 



was only that he was' inftinctively unwilling to parade them, 
— that he was remarkably free from anything like pre- 
tention. 

He carried this very far. To take a ftrong example, 
few perfons fufpected him of literary induftry till all the 
world knew what he had done. Not half a dozen, I think, 
out of his own family, were aware, during the whole period 
in which he was employed on his " Ferdinand and Ifabella," 
that he was occupied with any considerable literary under- 
taking, and hardly anybody knew what it was. Mod of his 
friends thought that he led rather an idle, unprofitable life, 
but attributed it to his infirmity, and pardoned or overlooked it 
as a misfortune, rather than as anything difcreditable. On one 
occafion a near connection, whom he was in the habit of meet- 
ing in the moft familiar and pleafant manner at leaft once a 
week, affectionately urged him to undertake fome ferious occu- 
pation as a thing eifential to his happinefs, and even to his 
refpectable pofition in fociety. And yet, at that moment, he 
had been eight years laboring on his firft great work, and, 
though thus preffed and tempted, he did not confefs how he 
was employed. 10 

He was fenfitive, from his very nature as well as from the 
infirmities that befet him, and this fenfitivenefs of tempera- 
ment made it more than commonly difagreeable to him to 
have his exact habits interfered with or intruded upon. But 
he did not willingly permit his annoyance to be feen, and few 
ever fufpected that he felt it. When he was riding or taking 
his long walks, he was, as we have feen, in the habit of going 



10 As early as 1 821, he mowed figns of 
this fenfitivenefs, which fo remarkably 
characterized all his literary labors. After 
indicating two or three perfons, one of 
whom he might confult when he mould 
be writing a review for the " North Amer- 
ican," he adds : " Nor fhall any one elfe, 
if I can help it, know that I am writing." 
This occasional reticence — fo complete, 
fo abfolute, as it was in the cafe of the 



" Ferdinand and Ifabella " — is a remark- 
able trait in the character of one who was 
commonly open-hearted almoft to weak- 
nefs. I do not believe that three perfons 
out of his own home knew that he was 
writing that work until it was nearly com- 
pleted. Indeed, I am not aware that any- 
body knew it, for feveral years, except my- 
felf, his family, and those who helped him 
abroad in collecting materials. 



Sensitiveness. 



over and over again in his memory whatever he might laft 
have compofed, and thus correcting and finiming his work in a 
way peculiarly agreeable to himfelf. Of courfe, under fuch 
circumftances, any interruption to the current of his thoughts 
was unwelcome. And yet who of the hundreds that flopped 
him in his daily walks, or joined him on horfeback, eager for 
his kindly greeting or animated converfation, was ever received 
with any other. than a pleafant welcome ? During one winter, 
I know that the fame friend overtook him {o often in his 
morning ride, that he gave up his favorite road to avoid a 
kindnefs which he was not willing to feem to decline. His 
father and he underftood one another completely on this point. 
They often mounted at the fame time, but always turned their 
horfes in different directions. 

Nor was there in his intercourfe at home or abroad — with 
ftrangers or with his familiar friends — any noticeable trace 
of the flrict government to which he fubjeclied his time and 
his character. In his ftudy, everything went on by rule. 
His table and his papers were always in the niceft order. His 
chair flood always in the fame fpot, and — what was important 
— in the fame relations to the light. The furniture of the 
room was always arranged in the fame manner. The hours, 
and often even the minutes, were counted and appropriated. 
But when he came out from his work and joined his family, 
the change was complete, — the relaxation abfolute. Efpe- 
cially in the latter part of his life, and in the cheerful parlor of 
the old homeflead at Pepperell, furrounded by his children and 
their young friends, his gay fpirits were counted upon by all as 
an unfailing refource. The evening games could not be begun, 
the entertaining book could not be opened, until he had come 
from his work, and taken his accuftomed place in the circle 
which his prefence always made bright. 

In fociety it was the fame. He was never otherwife than 
eafy and unconflrained. It would have been difficult to find him 
in a company of perfons where any one was more attractive 
than he was. But he never feemed to be aware of it, or to 



155 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
^Et. 41. 



But rarely ftiowed 
it. 



His rigorous hab- 
its little fuf- 
pe£led. 



i 5 6 



Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 

His converfation 
never ambi- 
tious. 



Never con- 
ftrained in 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



make an effort to diftinguifh himfelf. The brilliant things he 
fometimes faid were almoft always in the nature of repartees, 
and depended fo much for their effect on what had gone be- 
fore that thofe who faw him ofteneft and knew him beft re- 
member little of his converfation, except that it was always 
agreeable, — often full of drollery, — occasionally fparkling. 
Bat it was one of its peculiarities, that it became fometimes 
amufing from its careleffnefs, — running into blunders and in- 
confequences, not unlike Irifh bulls, which nobody feemed to 
enjoy fo heartily as he did, or to expofe with fuch happy 
gayety. Eminently natural he always was, — everybody faw 
it who met him, — and in this quality refided, no doubt, 
much of the charm of his perfonal intercourfe. 

But it was certainly remarkable that one who lived fo many 
hours of each day by fuch rigorous rules, and who Subjected 
himfelf conftantly to a discipline, phyfical, intellectual, and 
moral, fo exact, mould yet have been thus eafy, unconstrained, 
and even carelefs in all focieties, at home and abroad, — with 
his children hardly more than with perfons whom he faw for 
the firft time. Such apparent contradictions — fuch a union 
of qualities and characteristics which nature commonly holds 
carefully afunder — have not always been intelligible to thofe 
who occasionally caught glimpfes of them, without being con- 
stantly near enough to fee how they were produced, or how 
they acted upon each other. It was a combination which 
could, I conceive, have been originally found or formed in no 
nature that had not that eSTential goodnefs and fweetnefs for 
which the beSt training is but a poor Substitute; and they could 
have been brought into fuch intimate union by no folvent lefs 
active than his charming fpirits, which feemed to Shed bright- 
nefs over his whole character. His funny fmile was abfolutely 
contagious, — his cordial eafy manners were irrefiftible. All 
who approached him felt and acknowledged their influence, 
and few thought of what might lie beneath them. 

One trait of his character, however, which, from its nature, 
was lefs obvious than the traits expreSTed by his general man- 



Charity to the Poor. 



ners, fhould be efpecially noticed, — I mean his charity to the 
poor. His liberality in contributing to whatever would im- 
prove and benefit the community was necerlarily known of 
many. Not io his private generofity. This he had, as it 
were, inherited. His mother's greater!: happinefs, beyond the 
circle of her family, was found in a free-handed beneficence. 
In the latter part of her life, when her refources were much 
beyond the claims that could be made on them by children 
already independent, fhe avoided all perfonal expenfe, and gave 
more than half her income to the poor. Her fon fully fhared 
her fpirit. While (he lived, he co-operated with her, and, after 
her death, her pensioners were not permitted, fo far as money 
could do it, to feel their lofs. 

But/ from his earlieft manhood, he was always free and 
liberal. In many years he gave away more than he intended 
to do, and more than he afterwards thought he ought to 
have done. But this did not prevent him from repeating 
the miftake or the mifcalculation. Indeed, though he was 
considerate and careful, as well as liberal, in his contribu- 
tions to public inftitutions, he was very impulfive in his 
private charities. An inftance happily recorded by Mr. 
Robert Carter, who was his fecretary for about a year, in 
1 847 -i 848, will better explain this part of his character 
than a page of generalities. 

" One bitter cold day," he fays, " I came to the ftudy, as ufual, at half paft 
ten. Mr. Prefcott went to work immediately on two long and important let- 
ters, one to Senor de Gayangos at Madrid, the other to Count Circourt at Paris, 
which he was very anxious to have finifhed in feafon to go by that week's mail 
to Europe. There was barely fufficient time to get them ready before the mail 
clofed. They were about half done when twelve o'clock, his hour for exercife, 
arrived. He was fo anxious to get them of? that he did what I had never known 
him to do before ; he relinquifhed his walk, and kept at his writing-cafe, telling 
me to go out and ftretch my legs, but to be fure and return at one o'clock, when 
he would have the letters ready to be copied. I offered to remain and copy as 
he wrote, but he faid there would be time enough if I came back at one o'clock. 
He never would allow me to work for him beyond the hours ftipulated in our 
agreement, and was very careful not to encroach upon my time, even for a 
minute, though he often made me take holidays. I flrolled about the city for 



157 



Chap. XII. 
JEt. 41. 

His charity to 
the poor. 



Mr. Carter. 



i58 

Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEr. 41. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



half an hour, and on my way back, paffing through Broad Street, where the Irifh 
congregate, met one Michael Sullivan, whom I knew. He feemed to be in 
trouble, and I inquired what ailed him. He faid he had been fick and out of 
work, and had no money, and his family were ftarving with cold. I went with 
him to the den where he lived, and found his wife and three or four fmall 
children in a wretched loft over a warehoufe, where they were lying on the floor 
huddled in a pile of ftraw and fhavings, with fome rags and pieces of old carpet 
over them. The only furniture in the room was a chair, a broken table, and a 
fmall ftove, in which were the expiring embers of a fcanty handful of coal, 
which they had begged from neighbors equally poor. The mercury was below 
zero out of doors, and the dilapidated apartment was not much warmer than the 
ftreet. I had no time to fpare, and the detention, flight as it was, prevented me 
from getting back to Mr. Prefcott's till a quarter paft one. His manufcript lay 
on my defk, and he was walking about the room in a ftate of impatience, I knew, 
though he mowed none, except by looking at his watch. As I warmed my 
chilled hands over the fire, I told him, by way of apology, what had detained me. 
Without fpeaking, he ftepped to a drawer where fcraps of writing paper were 
kept, took out a piece, and, laying it on my defk, told me to write an order on 

Mr. (a coal-dealer with whom he kept an account always open for fuch 

purpofes) for a ton of coal, to be delivered without delay to Michael Sullivan, 
Broad Street. He then went to his bell-rope, and gave it a vehement pull. A 
fervant entered as I finifhed the order. ' Take this,' he faid, ' as quick as you 
can to Mr. , and fee that the coal is delivered at once. What is the num- 
ber of the houfe in Broad Street ? ' 

" I had neglected to notice the number, though I could find the place readily 
myfelf. I therefore fuggefted to Mr. Prefcott, that, as there were probably 
twenty Michael Sullivans in Broad Street, the coal might not reach the right 
man, unlefs I faw to it in perfon, which I would do when I went to dinner at 
half paft two o'clock. 

" ' Thank you ! thank you ! ' he faid ; c but go at once, there will be time 
enough loft in getting the coal.' 

" I reminded him of the letters. c Go ! go 



! never mind the letters. 
Gayangos and Circourt will not freeze if they never get them, and Mrs. O'Sul- 
livan may, if you don't hurry. Stay ! can the man be trufted with money ? 
or will he fpend it all for drink ? ' He pulled out his pocket-book. I told 
him he could be trufted. He handed me five dollars. c See that they are 
made comfortable, at leaft while this cold fpell lafts. Take time enough 
to fee to them ; I fhall not want you till fix. Don't let them know I fent 
the money, or all Broad Street will be here begging within twenty-four 
hours.' 

" I relieved Mr. O'Sullivan, as 
when I returned at fix, I entered 



Mr. Prefcott perfifted in calling him, and, 
in the account-book, ' Charity five dollars.' 
'Always tell me when you know of fuch cafes,' he faid, 'and I fhall be only 
too happy to do fomething for them. I cannot go about myfelf to find them 
be always 

ifter my 



out, but I fha 



ready to contribute.' 
He did not let the matter reft there, but kept playfully 



Charity to the Poor. 



friends Mr. and Mrs. O' Sullivan, until I fatisfied him by afcertaining that he had 
found employment, and could provide for his family. After that he never alluded 
to them again." IJ 



i59 



11 From the New York " Tribune," as 
copied into the " Prefcott Memorial," New 
York, 1859. Sullivan was, no doubt, a 
Catholic, as were moil of the poor Irifh, 



who then herded in Broad Street. But 
Prefcott cared not a whit what was the 
religion of the poor he helped. It was 
enough that they were fufFering. 




Chap. XII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



i6o 



Chap. XIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 




CHAPTER XIII. 

1837- 

Period immediately after the Publication of c< Ferdinand and Ifabella." — 
Thinks of writing a Life of Moliere ; but prefers Spanifh Subjetls. — 
Reviews. — Inquires again into the Truth of Chriftianity. — "Conqueft of 
Mexico'' — Books and Manufcripts obtained for it. — Humboldt. — Indo- 
lence. — Correspondence with Wafhington Irving. 

HE fummer of 1836, when the compofition of 
" Ferdinand and Ifabella " was completed, and 
the following eighteen months, during which 
it was carried through the prefs and its fuccefs 
made fure, conftituted a very happy period in 
Mr. Prefcott's life. The inexperienced author 
fpeculated, indeed, more than he needed to have done on the 
rifks of his venture, and felt concerning the final refult a good 
deal of nervous curiofity, which, if it did not amount to anx- 
iety, was fomething very near to it. But he foon began to 
confider what he mould do when the holidays in which he 
was indulging himfelf mould come to an end. For fome time 
he was very uncertain. It was his way in fuch cafes to doubt 
long. 

At one period, he determined, if the " Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella " mould be coldly received, to take up fome lighter fub- 
jecl:, for which, with all his diftruft of himfelf, he could not 
doubt his competency. Several fubjecls came readily to his 




Idle Time. 



thoughts, but none tempted him fo much as Moliere, on whofe 
character and works he had, in 1828, written a pleafant article 
for the " North American Review," — the " Old North," as he 
ufed to call it. As foon, therefore, as he had corrected the laft 
fheets of the " Catholic Sovereigns," he wrote to me about his 
new project, knowing that I was in Paris, where I might help 
him in collecting materials for it. This was in September, 

1837.' 

It was not difficult to do all he defired. I advifed with 
M. Jules Tafchereau, 2 who, befides his other claims on the 
republic of letters, had then recently publifhed the fecond 
edition of his " Life of Moliere," — altogether the beft book 
on its fubjedt, though with an air of greater learning than 
might have been anticipated from the brilliant character of 
the genius to whom it is devoted. Having made fure of the 
affiftance of Mr. Tafchereau, I at once undertook the com- 
miffion, and wrote to my friend how I propofed to execute it. 
He replied in the poftfcript to a letter already extending to four 
fheets, which he thus characterizes : — 

" My letter refembles one of thofe old higglety-pigglety houfes that have been 
fo much tinkered and built upon that one hardly knows the front from the rear. 
I have got to-day your letter of November 24th, — a kind letter, mowing that 
you are, as you always have been ever fince you came into the world, thinking 
how you can beft ferve your friends. I am truly obliged by your intereft in the 
little Moliere purchafes, and, if anything occurs to you of value that I have 

omitted, pray order it My defign is to write a notice of his life and 

works, which, without pretence (for it would be but pretence) to critical (kill 
in the French language or drama, would make an agreeable book for the 

parlor table As the thing, in my profy way, would take two or three 

years, I don't care to fpeak of it to any one elfe. 

" But my heart is fet on a Spanifh fubjecT:, could I compafs the materials, viz. 
the Conqueft of Mexico, and the anterior civilization of the Mexicans, — a 



161 



1 He had, fomewhat earlier, a confid- 
erable fancy for literary hiftory, of which 
he often fpoke to me. When he was half 
through the compofition of his " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," and haftening to finifh it, he 
recorded: "Bat, after all, literary hif- 
tory is more confonant with my tafte, my 
21 



turn of mind, and all my previous ftudies. 
The fooner I complete my prefent work, 
the fooner I fhall be enabled to enter upon 
it. Sofejiina." 

2 Now (1862) the head of the Impe- 
rial Library at Paris. 



Chap. XIII. 

^37- 
JEt. 41. 

Thinks of a Life 
of Moliere 



M. Tafchereau 



Prefers a Spanifh 
fubjedt. 



Succefs of the 
" Ferdinand 
and Ifabella. 



l62 



Chap. XIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Don Angel Cal 
deron. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



materials teem in Simancas and Ma- 
give a couple of thoufand dollars that 



beautiful profe epic, for which rich virgin 

drid, and probably in Mexico. I would 

they lay in a certain attic in Bedford Street. But how can I compafs it in thefe 

troubled times, — too troubled, it would feem, for old Navarrete to follow down 

the ftream of ftory, which he has carried to the very time of Cortes." 3 

The refult of the matter was, that I fent him a collection of 
about fifty volumes, which, for anybody who wifhed to write 
a pleafant life of Moliere, left little to be defired, and nothing 
for one whofe purpofe was general literary criticifm, rather 
than curious biographical or bibliographical refearch. But 
before he had received the purchafe I had thus made for him, 
the fuccefs of his "Ferdinand and Ifabella" had happily turned 
his attention again to the Spanifh fubjecl, which lay nearefl: his 
heart. On the fixth of April, he wrote to me concerning both 
the "Mexico" and the "Moliere," telling me, at the fame 
time, of a pleafant acquaintance he had made, which promifed 
much to favor his Spanifh project, and which, in the end, did 
a great deal more, giving him a kind, true, and important 
friend. 

" I have been much gratified," he fays, " by the manner in which the book 
has been received by more than one intelligent Spaniard here, in particular by the 
Spanifh Minifter, Don Angel Calderon de la Barca, who has fent me a prefent 
of books, and exprefles his intention of tranflating my Hiftory into Caftilian. 
In confequence of this, as well as to obtain his afliftance for the other crotchets 
I have in my head, I paid a vifit to New York laft week, — a momentous affair, 
for it would be eafier for you to go to Constantinople. Well, I faw his Spanijh- 
jhip, and was very much pleafed with him, — a frank, manly caballero, who has 
refigned his office from a refufal to fubfcribe the late democratic conftitution. He 
is quite an accomplifhed man, and in correfpondence with the principal Spanifh 
fcholars at home, fo that he will be of obvious ufe to me in any projecl: I may 
have hereafter. He told me he had fent a copy of the work to the Royal 



3 He refers to the remarkable work — 
mainly documentary — entitled " Colec- 
cion de Viages y Defcubrimientos que hi- 
cieron por Mar los Efpanoles defde fines 
del Siglo XV. coordinada e' iluftrada por 
Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete." 
Madrid, 1825-37. 5 Tomos, 4to. It 
begins, of courfe, with Columbus ; but it 
comes down only to Loaifa and Saavedra, 



without touching the expedition of Cortes 
for the conqueft of Mexico ; or even ap- 
proaching that of the Pizarros for the con- 
quer!: of Peru. The manufcript materials 
for both of thefe, however, as we fhall fee 
hereafter, were placed by Navarrete, who 
had collected them for publication, with 
true Spanifh generofity, at the difpofition 
of Mr. Prefcott. 



Idle life. 



Academy of Hiftory, and mould prefent one to the Queen, if he had not retired 
from office. There's a feather in my cap ! 

" In New York I faw your old friends the L s, and palled an evening 

with them. It is ten years to a month fince I was there with you 

" The New-Yorkers have done the handfome thing by me, — that is, the book. 
But fink the fhop ! I have doled you and Anna with quite enough of it. The 
truth is, I always talk to you and Anna as I mould to my own flefh and blood ; 
and if you do not fo take it, I fhall make a pretty ridiculous figure in your eyes. 
But I will venture it. 

" I believe I have not written to you fince the arrival of the French books 
[about Moliere] all fafe and found. Never was there fo much multum in fo little 
parvo, — and then the c damage ' a mere bagatelle. How much am I obliged 
to you, not only for thinking, but for thinking in the right place and manner, for 
me, and for acting as well as thinking. I begin to believe I have Fortunatus's 
wiming-cap while you are in Europe. For that reafon, perhaps, I mould mow 
more confcience in putting the faid wifhing-cap on my head. Well, the wifh 
I have neareft at heart, God knows, is to fee you and Anna and the petites fafe 
on this fide of the water again. And that will come to pafs, too, before long. 
You will find us a few years older. Father Time has thinned out the loofe 
hairs from fome craniums, and fhaken his vile dredging-box over others. For 
myfelf, I have turned forty, fince you went away, — an ugly corner that takes 
a man into the fhadow of life, as it were. But better be in the fhadow with the 
friends you love, than keep in the everlafting funfhine of youth, — if that were 
poffible, — and fee them go down into the valley without you. One does not 
feel his progrefs, when all around is going on at the fame rate. I mail not, how- 
ever, give up entirely my claims to be reckoned young, fince a newspaper this 
very week ftyles me ' our young and modeft townsman.' I fuppofe you will 
admit one epithet to be as true as the other." 

As we have feen, the period that followed the publication of 
" Ferdinand and Ifabella " was not fruitful in literary refults. 
Except a pleafant article on Lockhart's " Life of Scott," 
which he prepared for the " North American Review," he 
wrote nothing during that winter, — not even his accuftomed 
private memoranda. No doubt, he was, in one fenfe, idle, and 
he more than once fpoke of thefe months afterwards with 
regret and pain ; but the vacation, though a pretty long one, 
feems not to have been entirely amifs in its occupations or its 
confequences. He read, or rather liftened to much reading ; 
light and mifcellaneous in general, but not always (o. Some- 
times, indeed, during his protracted holidays, it was of the 
graveft fort ; for, while his work was going through the prefs, he 



163 



Chap. XIII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 



Books on Mo- 
liere. 



Growing older. 



.eview of Lock- 
hart's Lite of 
Scott. 



164 



Chap. XTII. 

1837. 
JEt. 41. 

Truth of Chrif- 
tianity. 



Religious con- 
vi&ions. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



occupied himfelf again with careful inquiries into the authority 
and doctrines of the Chriftian religion. He read Marfh on 
the origin of the firft three Gofpels in his Prolegomena to the 
tranflation of " Michaelis"; the firft volume — being all then 
publimed — of Norton's " Genuinenefs of the Gofpels," to 
whofe learning and power he bore teftimony in a note to the 
" Ferdinand and Ifabella " ; Newcome's " Harmony " ; Paley's 
" Evidences " ; Middleton's " Free Inquiry " ; and Gibbon's 
famous chapters, — works the laft three of which he had 
confidered and ftudied before. A little later he read Norton's 
" Statement of Reafons," and Furnefs on the Four Gofpels ; 
but he did not go as thoroughly as he had in his previous 
inquiries into the orthodox doctrines, as they are called ; for, 
as he faid, he was more and more fatisfied that they were 
unfounded. After expreffing himfelf decidedly on thefe points, 
and coming to the general conclufion that " the ftudy of po- 
lemics or biblical critics will tend neither to fettle principles nor 
clear up doubts, but rather to confufe the former and multiply 
the latter," he concludes with thefe ftriking words : — 

" To do well and a£t juftly, to fear and to love God, and to love our 
neighbor as ourfelves, — in thefe is the effence of religion. To do this is the 
fafeft, our only fafe courfe. For what we can believe, we are not refponfible, 
fuppofing we examine candidly and patiently. For what we do, we mall indeed 
be accountable. The doctrines of the Saviour unfold the whole code of morals 
by which our conduct fhould be regulated. Who, then, whatever difficulties 
he may meet with in particular incidents and opinions recorded in the Gofpels, 
can hefitate to receive the great religious and moral truths inculcated by the 
Saviour as the words of infpiration ? I cannot, certainly. On thefe, then, I will 
reft, and for all elfe 

' Wait the great teacher Death, and God adore.' " 

When he had come to the conclufion that the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella " was a fuccefsful book, and likely to laft, — a 
refult at which he arrived very flowly, — he abandoned the 
idea of writing the Life of Moliere, and turned, with a 
decided purpofe, to the Hiftory of the Conqueft of Mexico, 
which had been, for fome time, interefting and tempting him 
in a way not to be refifted. One caufe of his long hefitation 



Humboldt 



i6 5 



" Humboldt is a true philofopher, diverted of local or national prejudices, 
fortified with uncommon learning, which fupplies him with abundant illuftrations 
and analogies. Like moft truly learned men, he is cautious and modeft in his 
deductions, and, though he aiTembles very many remarkable coincidences between 
the Old World and the New in their inftitutions, notions, habits, &c, yet he does 
not infer that the New World was peopled from the Old, — much lefs from what 
particular nation, as more rafh fpeculators have done." 

The notes to his " Conqueft of Mexico " abound in fimilar 
expreffions of admiration for the great traveller ; a man who, 
as an obferver of nature, was once faid by Biot (a competent 
judge, if anybody was) to have been equalled by none iince 
the days of Ariftotle. 

But though my friend was much interefted in thefe works, 

4 He felt the need of a grave fubjecl:, records in 1838, " flill lefs paltry profit, 

and of fuccefs in it, as, I think, he always will not content me, I am confident." 
did after he had once begun his hiilorical 5 Ferdinand and Ifabella, Part I. Chap, 

career. " Mere ephemeral fuccefs," he XVI., notes. 



1838. 
JEt. 42. 



was the doubt he felt whether he could obtain the materials Cha p- XIII. 
that he deemed neceffary for the work. He had written for 
them to Madrid, in April, 1838; but before a reply could 
reach him, weary of a vacation which, reckoning from the 
time when he finiihed the composition of " Ferdinand and 
Isabella," was now protracted to nearly two years, and quite fure 
that on all accounts he ought to be at work again, he began 
cautioufly to enter on his new fubjecl: with fuch books as he 
could command. 4 

In June he records that he had read with much care Hum- 
boldt's "Refearches concerning the Inftitutions of the Ancient 
Inhabitants of America/' and his " New Spain." It was his 
earlieft acquaintance with the works of this great man, except 
that, when writing an account of the firft voyage of Colum- 
bus for his " Ferdinand and Ifabella," he had reforted to that 
mine of knowledge and philofophy, the " Examen Critique 
de l'Hiftoire et de la Geographie du Nouveau Continent." 5 
The two works he now ftudied are, however, in fome re- 
flects, of more Significance, and he thus notes his opinion of 
them : - — 



Humboldt. 



i66 



Chap. XIII. 

1838. 
JEt. 42. 

Hefitations. 



Letter to Wafh- 
ington Irving. 



William Hick ling P res cot t 



and, during the year 1838, read or ran over many others of 
lefs moment relating to the geography and phyfical con- 
dition of that part of America to which they relate, he did 
not yet begin to labor in earneft on his " Conqueft of Mexico." 
In September, his difinclination to work was very ftrong. 

" I have been indolent," he fays, " the laft fortnight. It is not eafy to go 
forward without the fteady impulfe of a definite object. In the uncertainty as 
to the ifTue of my application in Spain, I am without fuch impulfe. I ought 
always to find fufficient in the general advantages refulting from ftudy to my 
mental refources, — advantages to be felt on whatever fubjecl: my mind is 
engaged. But I am refolved to mend, and to employ all the hours my reader 
is with me, and fomething more, when my eye will ferve. Of one thing I 
am perfuaded. No motives but thofe of an honeft fame and of ufefulnefs will 
have much weight in ftimulating my labors. I never mail be fatisfied to do my 
work in a flovenly way, nor fuperficially. It would be impomble for me to do 
the job-work of a literary hack. Fortunately, I am not obliged to write for 
bread, and I never will write for money." 

One anxiety, which had troubled him for a time, was re- 
moved in the following winter by the prompt courtefy of Mr. 
Wafhington Irving. It was not fuch an anxiety as would have 
occurred to everybody under the fame circumftances, nor one 
that would have been always fo readily and pleafantly removed 
as it was in the prefent cafe, by the following correfpond- 
ence : — 



MR. PRESCOTT TO MR. 



IRVING. 

Bofton, Dec. 31, 1838. 



My dear Sir, 

If you will allow one to addrefs you fo familiarly who has not the pleafure 
of your perfonal acquaintance, though he feels as if he had known you for 
a long time. Our friend Mr. Cogfwell, 6 who is here on a fhort vifit, has 



6 The reference here is to Mr. J. G. 
Cogfwell, the well-known head of the 
Aftor Library, New York, to whofe difin- 
tereflednefs, enthufiafm, and knowledge 
that important inflitution owes hardly lefs 
of its character and fuccefs than it does to 
the elder Mr. Aftor, whofe munificence 
founded it, or to the younger Mr. Aftor, 
who, in the fame fpirit, has fuitained it 



and increafed its refources. Mr. Cogfwell, 
from his youth, was intimate in the Pref- 
cott family, and always much cherifhed by 
every member of it ; fo that, being on 
equally intimate and affectionate terms with 
Mr. Irving, he was the beft poffible perfon 
to arrange fuch a delicate affair between 
the parties. 



Correspondence with Mr. Irving. 



mentioned to me a converfation which he had with you reflecting the 
defign I had formed of giving an account of the Conqueft of Mexico 
and Peru. I hope you will excufe me if I tell you how the matter ftands 
with me. 

Soon after I had defpatched their Catholic HighnefTes, Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella, I found the want of my old companions in the long hours of an idle 
man's life, and, as I looked round for fomething elfe, the Hiftory of Cortes 
and Pizarro ftruck me as the beft fubjecl, from its growing out of the period 
I had become familiar with, as well as from its relation to our own country. 
I found, too, that I had peculiar facilities for getting fuch books and manufcripts 
as I needed from Madrid, through the kindnefs of Sefior Calderon, whom 
you know. 

The only doubts I had on the fubjecl: were reflecting your defigns in the 
fame way, fince you had already written the adventures of the early difcoverers. 
I thought of writing to you, to learn from you your intentions, but I was afraid 
it might feem impertinent in a ftranger to pry into your affairs. I made in- 
quiries, however, of feveral of your friends, and could not learn that you had 
any purpofe of occupying yourfelf with the fubjecl:; and, as you had never made 
any public intimation of the fort, I believe, and feveral years had elapfed fince 
your laft publication of the kind, during which your attention had been directed 
in another channel, I concluded that you had abandoned the intention, if you 
had ever formed it. 

I made up my mind, therefore, to go on with it, and, as I propofed to give 
a pretty thorough preliminary view of the ftate of civilization in Mexico and 
Peru previous to the Conqueft, I determined to fpare no pains or expenfe in 
collecting materials. I have remitted three hundred pounds to Madrid for the 
purchafe and copying of books and manufcripts, and have alfo fent for Lord 
Kingfborough's and fuch other works relating to Mexico as I can get from Lon- 
don. 7 I have alfo obtained letters to individuals in Mexico for the purpofe of 
collecting what may be of importance to me there. Some of the works from 
London have arrived, and the drafts from Madrid mow that my orders are 
executing there. Such works as can be got here in a pretty good collection in 
the College library I have already examined, and wait only for my books from 
Spain. 

This is the ftate of affairs now that I have learned from Mr. C. that you 
had originally propofed to treat the fame fubject, and that you requefted him 
to fay to me, that you fhould relinquifh it in my favor. I cannot fufficiently 
exprefs to you my fenfe of your courtefy, which I can very well appreciate, as I 
know the mortification it would have caufed me, if, contrary to my expectations, 
I had found you on the ground ; for I am but a dull failer from the embarrafl- 
ments I labor under, and fhould have found but forry gleanings in the field 
which you had thoroughly burnt over, as they fay in the Weft. I fear the 
public will not feel fo much pleafed as myfelf by this liberal conduct on your 
part, and I am not fure that I fhould have a right in their eyes to avail myfelf 

" This he had done about nine months earlier. 



l67 



Chap. XIII. 

1838. 
JEt. 42. 



Adventures of 
Cortes and 
Pizarro as fub- 



jedls. 



Preparations for 
his work on 
Mexico. 



Anxiety not to 
interfere with 
Mr. Irving. 



i68 



Chap. XIII. 

1838. 
JEt. 42. 



Letter of Mr. 
Irving to Mr. 
Prefcott. 



Difficulties of 
writing on the 
fubjecl: of 
Mexico. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



of it. 8 But I truft you will think differently when I accept your proffered 
courtefy in the fame cordial fpirit in which it was given. 

It will be conferring a ftill further favor on me, if you will allow me oc- 
cafionally, when I may find the want of it, to afk your advice in the progrefs of 
the work. There are few perfons among us who have paid much attention to 
thefeftudies, and no one, here or elfewhere, is fo familiar as yourfelf with the track 
of Spanim adventure in the New World and fo well qualified certainly to give 
advice to a comparatively raw hand. Do not fear that this will expofe you to a 
troublefome correfpondence. I have never been addicted to much letter-writ- 
ing, though, from the fpecimen before you, I am afraid you will think thofe I 
do write are fomewhat of the longeft. 

Believe me, dear Sir, with great refpe£t, 

Your obliged and obedient fervant, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

P. S. Will you permit me to fay, that if you have any materials in your 
own library having a bearing on this fubjecl:, that cannot be got here, and that 
you have no occafion for yourfelf, it will be a great favor if you will difpofe 
of them to me. 



MR. IRVING TO MR. PRESCOTT. 



My dear Sir. 



New York, Jan. 18, 1839. 



Your letter met with fome delay in reaching me, and fince the receipt of 
it I have been hovering between town and country, fo as to have had no quiet 
leifure for an earlier reply. 

I had always intended to write an account of the " Conqueft of Mexico," as 
a fuite to my " Columbus," but left Spain without making the requifite re- 
fearches. The unfettled life I fubfequently led for fome years, and the inter- 
ruptions to my literary plans by other occupations, made me defer- the under- 
taking from year to year. Indeed, the more I confidered the fubjecl:, the more 
I became aware of the neceffity of devoting to it great labor, patient refearch, 
and watchful difcrimination, to get at the truth, and to difpel the magnificent 
mirage with which it is enveloped. For, unlefs this were done, a work, how- 
ever well executed in point of literary merit, would be liable to be fubverted 
and fuperfeded by fubfequent works, grounded on thofe documentary evidences 
that might be dug out of the chaotic archives of Spain. Thefe considerations 
loomed into great obftacles in my mind, and, amidft the hurry of other matters, 
delayed me in putting my hand to the enterprife. 



8 A fimilar idea is very gracefully ex- 
prefTed in the Preface to the Conqueft of 
Mexico, where, after relating the circum- 
ftance of Mr. Irving's relinquifhment of 
the fubjecl:, Mr. Prefcott adds : <« While 



I do but juftice to Mr. Irving by this 
ftatement, I feel the prejudice it does to 
myfelf in the unavailing regret I am excit- 
ing in the bofom of the reader." 



Correspondence with Mr. Irving. 

About three vears fince I made an attempt at it, and fet one of mv nephews 
to act as pioneer and get together materials under my direction, but his own 
concerns called him elfewhere, and the matter was again poftponed. Laft 
autumn, after a fit of deep depreflion, feeling the want of fomething to roufe 
and exercife my mind, I again recurred to this fubject. Fearing that, if I waited 
to collect materials, I mould never take hold of them, and knowing my own 
temperament and habits of mind, I determined to dam into it at once ; fketch 
out a narrative of the whole enterprife, ufing Solis, Herrera, and Bernal Diaz 
as mv guide-books ; and, having thus acquainted myfelf with the whole ground, 
and kindled myfelf into a heat by the exercife of drafting the ftory, to endeavor 
to ftrengthen, correct, dire£t, and authenticate my work by materials from every 
fource within my reach. 

I accordingly fet to work, and had made it my daily occupation for about three 
months, and fketched out the groundwork for the firft volume, when I learned 
from Mr. Cogfwell that you had undertaken the fame enterprife. I at once 
felt how much more juftice the fubject would receive at your hands. Ever 
fince I had been meddling with the theme, its grandeur and magnificence had 
been growing upon me, and I had felt more and more doubtful whether 
I fhould be able to treat it confcientioujly, — that is to fav, with the extenfive 
refearch and thorough investigation wmich it merited. The hiftorv of Mexico 
prior to the difcovery and conqueft, and the actual ftate of its civilization at the 
time of the Spanifh invafion, are queftions in the higheft degree curious and in- 
teresting, vet difficult to be afcertained clearly from the falfe lights thrown upon 
them. Even the writings of Padre Sahagun perplex one as to the degree of faith 
to be placed in them. Thefe themes are connected with the grand enigma that 
refts upon the primitive population and civilization of the American continent, 
and of which the fingular monuments and remains fcattered throughout the 
wildernefs ferve but as tantalizing indications. 



which 



you 



have executed your noble " Hiftorv of Ferdinand 



The manner in 

and Ifabella" gave me at once an aflurance that you were the man to undertake 
the fubjecl:. Your letter mows that I was not wrong in the conviction, and 
that you have already fet to work on the requifite preparations. In at once 
yielding up the thing to you, I feel that I am but doing my duty in leaving one 
of the moft magnificent themes in American hiftorv to be treated bv one who 
will build up from it an enduring monument in the literature of our country 7 . 
I only hope that I may live to fee your work executed, and to read in it an 
authentic account of that conqueft, and a fatisfactory difcuffion of the various 



of romantic charm to me 
have ever perplexed 



mv 



queftions which fince my bovhood have been full 
but which, while they excited my imagination, 
judgment. 

I am forrv that I have no works to offer you, that you have not in the Bofton 
libraries. I have mentioned the authors I was making ufe of. They are to 
be found in the Bofton Athenaeum, though I doubt not you have them in your 
own pofleffion. While in Madrid, I had a few chapters of Padre Sahagun 
copied out for me, relating merely to fome points of the Spanifh invafion. His 
work you will find in Lord Kingfborough's collection. It profefles to give a 
22 



169 



Chap. XIII. 
1839. 

JEt. 42. 

Attempts it. 



Gives it up. 



170 



Chap. XIII. 

1839. 
JEt. 42. 



Alarm about the 
fubjeft of 
Mexico. 



Materials want- 
ed. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



complete account of Mexico prior to the conqueft, its public inftitutions, trades, 
callings, cuftoms, &c, &c. Should I find among my books any that may be 
likely to be of fervice, I will fend them to you. In the mean time do not 
hefitate to command my fervices in any way you may think proper. 

I am fcrawling this letter in great hafte, as you will doubtlefs perceive, but 
beg you will take it as a proof of the fincere and very high refpect and efteem 
with which I am 

Your friend and fervant, 

Washington Irving. 9 



MR. PRESCOTT TO MR. IRVING. 



My 



DEAR 



Sir. 



Bofton, Jan. 25, 



39- 



You will be alarmed at again feeing an epiftle from me fo foon, but I cannot 
refrain from replying to your very kind communication. I have read your letter 
with much intereft, and — I may truly fay, as to that part of it which animad- 
verts on the importance of the theme, as illuftrating the Mexican Antiquities 
— with fome difmay. I fear you will be fadly difappointed, if you expect to 
fee a folution by me of thofe vexed queftions which have bewildered the brains 
of fo many profefTed antiquarians. My fingers are too clumfy to unravel fuch a 
fnarl. All I propofe to do in this part of the fubject is, to prefent the reader 
fuch a view of the inftitutions and civilization of the conquered people as will 
intereft him in their fortunes. To do this, it will not be neceffary, I hope, to 
involve myfelf in thofe mifty fpeculations which require better fight than mine 
to penetrate, but only to ftate facts as far as they can be gathered from authen- 
tic ftory. 

For this part of the fubjecl:, therefore, I have not attempted to collect manu- 
fcripts, of which I fuppofe there is a great number in the libraries of Mexico, — 
at leaft, there was in Clavigero's time, — but I fhall content myfelf with the 
examination of fuch works as have been before the public, including, indeed, 
the compilation of Lord Kingfborough, and the great French work, "Antiquites 
Mexicaines," fince publifhed, the chief value of both of which, I fufpect, ex- 
cept the chronicle of Sahagun in the former, confifts in their pictorial illuftra- 
tions. My chief object is the Conqueft, and the materials I am endeavoring to 
collect are with the view to the exhibition of this in the moft authentic light. 



9 How Mr. Prefcott felt on receiving 
this letter, may be feen from the following 
note enclofing it to me, the day it came to 
hand : — 

January 21ft. 

Mio Carissimo, 
I told you that I wrote to Irving, thank- 
ing him for his courtefy the other day. 



Here is his refponfe, which I thought you 
would like to fee. He puts me into a 
fright, by the terrible refponfibilities he 
throws on the fubject, or rather on the 
man who meddles with it. 
Ever thine, 

W. H. Prescott. 



Correspondence with Mr. 



Irving. 



171 



Chap. XIII. 



1839. 
JEt. 42. 

Books and man- 
ufcripts from 
Madrid. 



It will give you fatisfacliion to learn that my efforts in Spain promife to be 
attended with perfect fuccefs. I received letters laft week from Madrid, in- 
forming me that the Academy of Hiftory, at the inftance of Senor Navarrete, 
had granted my application to have copies taken of any and all manufcripts in 
their poffeflion having relation to the Conqueft of Mexico and Peru, and had 
appointed one of their body to carry this into effect. This perfon is a German, 
named Lembke, the author of a work on the early hiftory of Spain, which one 
of the Englifh journals, I remember, rapped me over the knuckles for not hav- 
ing feen. 10 This learned Theban happens to be in Madrid for the nonce, Dr. Lembke. 
purfuing fome inveftigations of his own, and he has taken charge of mine, like 
a true German, infpecliing everything and fele£ring juft what has reference to 
my fubjecl:. In this way he has been employed with four copyifts fince July, 
and has amaffed a quantity of unpublifhed documents illuftrative of the Mexican 
Conqueft, which, he writes me, will place the expedition in a new and authentic 
light. He has already fent off two boxes to Cadiz, and is now employed in 
hunting up the materials relating to Peru, in which, he fays, the Library appears 
to be equally rich. I wifh he may not be too fanguine, and that the manufcripts 
may not fall into the hands of Carlift or Chriftino, who would probably work 
them up into mufket-waddings in much lefs time than they were copying 

The fpecifications of manufcripts, furnifhed me by Dr. Lembke, make me 
feel nearly independent of Mexico, with which the communications are now even 
more obftructed than with Spain. I have endeavored to open them, however, 
through Mr. Poinfett and the Meffrs. Barings, and cannot but hope I fhall fuc- 
ceed through one or the other channel. 

I had no idea of your having looked into the fubjecl: fo clofelv yourfelf, ftill 
lefs that you had fo far broken ground on it. I regret now that I had not com- 
municated with you earlier in a direct way, as it might have faved both, or 
rather one of us, fome previous preparation ; for during the fummer and autumn 
I have been occupied with the inveftigation of the early Mexican hiftory, having 
explored all the fources within my reach here, and being flopped by the want ot 
[more of] them. 

Now that I have gone on fo far with my preparations, I can only acknowl- 
edge your great courtefy towards me with my hearty thanks, for I know well 
that whatever advantage I might have acquired on the fcore of materials would 
have been far — very far — outweighed by the fuperiority in all other refpecls 
of what might fall from your pen. And your relinquiffiing the ground feems to 



10 Gefchichte von Spanien, von Friede- 
rich Wilhelm Lembke, Erfter Band. Ham- 
burg, 183 1, 8vo. It goes no farther than 
about the year A.D. 800, and therefore 
could not have been of the leaf! importance 
to one writing the Hiftory of Ferdinand 
and Ifabella, who lived feven hundred 
years later. Dr. Lembke, indeed, rendered 
good fervice to Mr. Prefcott in collecting 
thematenais lor the "Conquefts" of Mexico 



and Peru ; but he wrote no more of his 
own Hiftory of Spain, which was, how- 
ever, continued by Heinrich Schafer, down 
to about 1 100, — a period ftill far from 
that of the Catholic Sovereigns, — befides 
which Schafer's work did not appear until 
1844, fix years after the appearance of the 
" Ferdinand and Ifabella." So much for 
the clairvoyance of the Englifh journaliit. 



Thanks to Mr. 
Irving. 



172 



Chap. XIII. 

1839. 
JEt. 42. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



impofe on me an additional refponfibility, to try to make your place good, 
from which a ftouter heart than mine might well fhrink. I truft, however, 
that in you I mail find a generous critic, and allow me to add, with fincerity, 
that the kind words you have faid of the only child of my brain have gratified 
me, and touched me more deeply than anything that has yet reached me from 
my countrymen. 

Believe me, my dear fir, 

With fincere refpect, 

Your friend and fervant, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Since writing this chapter, and, in facl, 
fince this work itfelf was finifhed and fent 
to prefs, the third volume of the charming 
" Life and Letters of Washington Irving, 
by his Nephew, Pierre M. Irving," has 
been published. It contains the following 
additional interefting facts upon the fubjecl: 
of the Conqueft of Mexico : — 

" Mr. Irving," fays his biographer, "was 
now bufy upon the Hiftory of the Con- 
queft of Mexico, and it was upon this 
theme that he was exercifing that ' vein of 
literary occupation ' alluded to at the clofe 
of the foregoing letter [to Mrs. Van Wart, 
his filler]. He had not only commenced 
the work, but had made a rough draught 
to form the groundwork of the firft vol- 
ume, when he went to New York to pro- 
cure or confult fome books on the fubjecl:. 
He was engaged in the ' City Library,' as 
it is commonly defignated, though its offi- 
cial ftyle is ' The New York Society 
Library,' then temporarily in Chambers 
Street, when he was accofted by Mr. 
Jofeph G. Cogfwell, the eminent fcholar, 
afterward fo long and honorably connected 
with the Aftor Library. It was from this 
gentleman that Mr. Irving firft learned 
that Mr. Prefcott, who had a few months 
before gained a proud name on both fides 
of the Atlantic, by his ' Hiftory of Ferdi- 
nand and Ifabella,' now had the work in 
contemplation upon which he had actively 
commenced. Cogfwell firft founded him, 
on the part of Mr. Prefcott, to know what 
fubjecl: he was occupied upon, as he did 



not wifh to come again acrofs the fame 
ground with him. Mr. Irving afked, ' Is 
Mr. Prefcott engaged upon an American 
fubjecl: ? ' * He is,' was the reply. ' What 
is it? Is it the Conqueft of Mexico?' 
' It is,' anfwered Cogfwell. ' Well then,' 
faid Mr. Irving, ' I am engaged upon that 
fubjecl: ; but tell Mr. Prefcott I abandon 
it to him, and I am happy to have this 
opportunity of teftifying my high efteem 
for his talents and my fenfe of the very 
courteous manner in which he has fpoken 
of myfelf and my writings, in his " Ferdi- 
nand and Ifabella," though they interfered 
with a part of the fubjecl. of his hiftory.' " 

About five years later, Mr. Irving, then 
our Minifter in Spain, received from Mr. 
Prefcott a copy of his " Hiftory of the 
Conqueft of Mexico," in the Preface to 
which he makes his public acknowledg- 
ment to Mr. Irving for giving up the fubjecl:. 

How Mr. Irving received it will appear 
from the following account by his biog- 
rapher. " ' I need not fay,' writes Mr. 
Irving to me, in noticing its receipt, 'how 
much I am delighted with the work. It 
well fuftains the high reputation acquired 
by the Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella.' 
Then, adverting to the terms of Mr. Pref- 
cott's handfome acknowledgment in the 
Preface, to which I had called his atten- 
tion, he adds : ' I doubt whether Mr. Pref- 
cott was aware of the extent of the facri- 
fice I made. This was a favorite fubjecl:, 
which had delighted my imagination ever 
fince I was a boy. I had brought home 



Mr. Irving. 



173 



books from Spain to aid me in it, and 
looked upon it as the pendant to my Co- 
lumbus. When I gave it up to him, 
I, in a manner, gave him up my bread ; 
for I depended upon the profit of it to 
recruit my waning finances. I had no 
other fubjett at hand to fupply its place. 
I was difmounted from my chevalde bataille, 
and have never been completely mounted 
fince. Had I accomplished that work, my 
whole pecuniary fituation would have been 

altered When I made the facrifice, 

it was not with a view to compliments or 
thanks, but from a warm and fudden im- 
pulfe. I am not forry for having made it. 
Mr. Prefcott has juftified the opinion I 
exprefTed at the time, that he would treat 



the fubjecl; with more clofe and ample re- Chap. XIII. 
fearch than I mould probably do, and | 
would produce a work more thoroughly j l %39- 
worthy of the theme. He has produced ^t. 42. 
a work that does honor to himfelf and his 
country, and I wifh him the full enjoy- 
ment of his laurels.' " — Life of Irving, 
1863, Vol. III. pp. 133 fqq., and 143 fqq. 
There are few fo beautiful paffages as 
this in literary hiftory, deformed as it 
often is with the jealoufies and quarrels of 
authorfhip. One, however, not unlike it 
will be found fubfequently in this volume, 
when we come to the relations between 
the author of the " Hiftory of Philip the 
Second," and the author of " The Rife of 
the Dutch Republic," 




174 



Chap. XIV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 

Earlier, wrote 
few letters. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

1839-1842. 

His Correfpondence becomes Important. — Letter to Irving. — Letters from 
Sifmondi, Thierry, Tytler, and Rogers. — Letter to Gayangos. — Memo- 
randa. — Letters to Gayangos, and others. — Letters from Ford and 
Tytler. 

^^^ONTIL fome time after the appearance of "Fer- 
WlSl \P dinand and Ifabella," Mr. Prefcott wrote very 
t few letters to anybody, and moft of thofe he 
< did write are loft. He correfponded, of courfe, 
3 with his family, in 18 16 and 18 17, when he 
g5jlir4 was in Europe, and he wrote fubfequently to 
one or two perfonal and houfehold friends, whenever he or 
they happened to be away from Bofton. Thefe letters, fo far 
as they have been preferved, I have ufed in the preceding nar- 
rative. But his life, though he was much in fociety in Bofton, 
was — both from preference and from his peculiar infirmities 
— in one fenfe very retired. He travelled hardly at all, think- 
ing that the expofures involved by journeys injured his eye, 
and therefore the occafions on which he wrote letters to his 
family were very rare. At the fame time, his urgent and fteady 
occupations made it difficult for him to write to others, (o that 
he had no regular correfpondence from 18 18 to 1839 with 
any fingle perfon. In one of the few letters that he wrote 
before he became known as an author, he fays that in the 



Correspondence. 



preceding three months he had written to but two perfons, — 
to both on bufinefs ; and in another letter, equally on bufi- 
nefs, but written a little later, he fays, that the friend to whom 
it was addreffed would " hardly know what to make of it" that 
he mould write to him at all. 

With his private memoranda, begun in 1820, and continued 
to the laft, fo as to fill above twelve hundred pages, the cafe is 
fomewhat different, although the refult is nearly the fame. 
Ample enough they certainly are from the firft, and, for their 
private purpofes, they are both apt and fufficient. But nearly 
or quite the whole of the earlier two thirds of this minute 
record is filled with an account of his daily ftudies, of his good 
refolutions, often broken, and of his plans for the future, often 
difappointed. Such records were from their nature only for 
himfelf, and only of tranfient intereft even to him. 

But after the fuccefs of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," his 
relations to the world were changed, and fo, in fome degree, 
were his hopes and purpofes in life. While, therefore, until 
that time, his correfpondence and Memoranda furnifh few ma- 
terials for his life, they conftitute afterwards not only the beft, 
but the largeft, part of whatever may be needful to exhibit him 
as he really was. I begin, therefore, at once with the letters 
and Memoranda of 1839, for, although fome of them look 
much ahead, and talk about his " Hiftory of Philip the Second," 
while he was yet bufy with the " Conqueft of Mexico," and 
before he had even taken in hand that of Peru, ftill they mow 
what, at the time, were his occupations and thoughts, and give 
proof of the providence and forecaft which always conftituted 
important traits in his character, and contributed much to his 
fuccefs in whatever he undertook. 

The firft of his letters belonging to this period is one con- 
taining his views on a fubjecl which has by no means yet loft 
the whole of its intereft as a public queftion, — that of inter- 
national copyright. 



175 



Chap. XIV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 



Private Memo- 
randa. 



[ncreafe of cor- 
refpondence. 



176 



Chap. XIV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 



Law of copy- 
right. 



Spanifh manu- 
fcripts. 



Don Angel Cal- 
deron. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



TO WASHINGTON IRVING. 



My 



DEAR 



Sir, 



Bofton, Dec. 24, 1839. 



I received fome weeks fince a letter from Dr. Lieber, of Columbia College, 
South Carolina, in which he informed me, that meafures were to be taken in 
Congrefs, this feffion, for making fuch an alteration in our copyright law as 
mould fecure the benefits of it to foreigners, and thus enable us to profit in turn 
by theirs. He was very defirous that I mould write, if I could not fee you 
perfonally, and requeft your co-operation in the matter. I felt very reluctant to 
do fo, knowing that you muft be much better acquainted than I was with the 
ftate of the affair, and, of courfe, could judge much better what was proper to be 
done. My indefatigable correfpondent, however, has again written to me, prefix- 
ing the neceflity of communicating with you, and ftating in confidence, as he 
fays, that Mr. Clay is to bring in a bill this feffion, and that Mr. Prefton x is to 
make the fpeech, &c. Mr. Prefton told him that it would be very defirable to 
have a brief memorial, figned by the perfons moft interefted in the fuccefs of 
the law, and that you were the proper perfon to prepare it. If anything be 
done, there can be no doubt that you are the one who, from your literary pofition 
in the country, fhould take the lead in it. Whether anything effectual can be 
done feems to me very doubtful. 

Such a law is certainly demanded by every principle of juftice. But I fufpect 
it is rather late in the day to talk of juftice to ftatefmen. At all events, one of 
thofe newfpapers which they are now turning out every week here, and which 
contains an octavo volume of the new publications, at fixpence apiece, will, 
I am afraid, be too cogent an argument in favor of the prefent ftate of things, to 
be refuted by the beft memorial ever drafted. Still we can but try, and, 
while the effort is making by the beft men in Congrefs, it may be our duty 
to try. 

Of all this, however, you can beft judge. I can only fay, that, if you will 
prepare a paper, I fhall be very glad, when it has been figned in your city, to do 
all in my power to get fuch fignatures to it here as will give it moft 
weight. I truft I fhall not appear to you officious in this matter, for I can 
well underftand, from my own feelings, how diftafteful this fort of work muft 
be to you. 

It will give you pleafure, I flatter myfelf, to know that I have completely 
fucceeded in my negotiations in Spain. Serior Navarrete, with whom you were 
acquainted in Madrid, has very liberally fupplied me with copies of his entire col- 
lection of manufcripts relating to Mexico and Peru, which it is improbable from 
his advanced age that he will ever publifh himfelf. Through his aid I have alfo 
obtained from the Academy copies of the collections made by Mufioz and by its 
former Prefident, Vargas y Ponce, making all together fome five thoufand pages, 
all in fair condition, — the flower of my Spanifh veterans. 

From Mexico, through my good friend Calderon, who is now gone there, you 



Willi 



C. Prefton, then in the Senate of the United States from South Carolina. 



Letter from y. C. L. de Sismondi. 

know, as minifter, I look for further ammunition, — though I am pretty in- 
dependent of that now. I have found fome difficulty in collecting the materials 
for the preliminary view I propofe of the Aztec civilization. The works are 
expenfive, and Lord Kingfborough's is locked up in chancery. I have fuc- 
ceeded, however, in ferreting out a copy, which, to fay truth, though eflen- 
tial, has fomewhat difappointed me. The whole of that part of the ftory is in 
twilight, and I fear I fhall at leaft make only moonfhine of it. I muft hope 
that it will be good moonfhine. It will go hard with me, however, but that I 
can fifh fomething new out of my ocean of manufcripts. 

As I have only half an eye of my own, and that more for fhow than ufe, 
my progrefs is neceflarily no more than a fnail's gallop. I mould be very glad 
to fhow you my literary wares, but I fear you are too little of a locomotive in 
your habits to afford me that great pleafure. Though I cannot fee you bodily, 
however, I am fitting under the light of your countenance, — for you are ranged 
above me (your immortal part) in a goodly row of octavos, — not in the home- 
fpun garb, but in the nice coftume of Albemarle and Burlington Streets. 

My copy of the Sketch-Book, by the by, is the one owned by Sir James 
Mackintofh, and with his pencillings in the margin. It was but laft evening 
that my little girl read us one of the ftories, which had juft enough of the 
myfterious to curdle the blood in the veins of her younger brother, who flopped 
up both his ears, faying he " would not hear fuch things juft as he was going to 
bed," and as our aftertions that no harm would come of it were all in vain, we 
were obliged to fend the urchin off to his quarters with, I fear, no very grateful 
feelings towards the author. 

At about the fame time that he wrote thus to Mr. Irving, 
he received three letters from eminent hiftorians, which gave 
him much pleafure. The firft is 



FROM J. C. L. DE SISMONDI. 



Sir, 



I have juft received your letter from Bofton, of the ift of July, with the 
beautiful prefent which accompanies it. It has touched me, it has flattered me, 
but at the fame time it has made me experience a very lively regret. I had 
found on my arrival at Paris, the laft year, the Englifh edition of your beautiful 
work. The addrefs alone had informed me that it was a prefent of the author, 
and I have never known how it arrived to me. On my return here I wrote you 
on the 22d of July, to exprefs to you my entire gratitude, the intereft with 
which I had feen you caft fo vivid a light over fo interefting a period of the 
hiftory of our Europe, my aftonifhment at your having attained fuch rich fources 
of learning, which are for the moft part interdicted to us; my admiration, in fine, 
for that force of character, and, without doubt, ferenity of fpirit, which had 
aflifted you in purfuing your noble enterprife under the weight of the greatefl 
23 



177 



Chap. XIV. 

1839. 

JEt. 43. 

Aztecs. 



Sketch-Book. 



Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



i 7 8 



Chap. XIV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 



Port-office of the 
United States. 



Blindnefs. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



calamity which can attend a man in his organs, and efpecially a man of letters, 
— the lofs of fight. I do not remember what circumftance made me think that 
you lived at New York, and it is thither that I directed my letter to you, but 
I took care to add to your name, "Author of the Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella," and I reprefented to myfelf that your fellow-countrymen ought to be 
fufficiently proud of your book for the directors of the poft of one of your 
largeft cities to know your refidence, and fend you my letter. It is more than 
a year fince that, and in the interval you have been able to learn how firmly 
eftablifhed is the fuccefs of your work, and my fuffrage has loft the little worth 
it might have had. I am mortified nevertheless to have been obliged to appear 
infenfible to your kindnefs 

I cannot believe that, after ten years fo ufefully, fo happily employed, you lay 
afide the pen. You are now initiated into the Hiftory of Spain, and it will be 
much more eafy to continue it than to begin it. After Robertfon, after Wat- 
fon, the fhadows thicken upon the Peninfula ; will you not diffipate them ? 
Will you not teach us what we have fo much need of knowing ? Will not you 
exhibit this decay ever more rapid, from the midft of which you will extract 
fuch important leffons ? Confider that the more you have given to the public, 
the more it would have a right to demand of you. Permit me to join my voice 
to that of the public in this demand, as I have done in applauding what you 
have already done. 

Believe me, with fentiments of the higheft confideration, 

Sir, 
Your obedient fervant, 

J. C. L. De Sismondi. 

Chenes, pres Geneve, Sept. 1, 1839. 



The next letter referred to, which is one from the author of 
the " Hiftoire de la Conquete de l'Angleterre par les Nor- 
mands/' himfelf quite blind, is very interefting on all ac- 
counts. / 

FROM M. P. AUGUSTIN THIERRY. 

Monsieur, 
Pardonnez moi d'avoir tarde fi longtemps a vous remercier du prefent que 
vous avez eu la bonte de me faire. Deux caufes ont contribue a ce retard : 
d'abord j'ai voulu lire en entier votre bel ouvrage, et les aveugles lifent lente- 
ment ; enfuite j'ai voulu vous envoyer, comme un bien faible retour, deux 
volumes qui etaient fous preffe ; je prends la liberte de vous les orFrir. Je ne 
faurais, Monfieur, vous exprimer tout le plaifir que m'a fait la lecture de votre 
" Hiftoire du Regne de Ferdinand et d'Ifabelle." C'eft un de ces livres egale- 
ment remarquables pour le fond et pour la forme, ou fe montrent a la fois des 



Letter from Patrick Fraser Tytler. 

etudes approfondies, une haute raifon et un grand talent d'ecrivain. On fent 
que vos recherches ont penetre au fond du fujet, que vous avez tout etudie aux 
fources, les origines nationales et provinciales, les traditions, les moeurs, les 
diale£tes, la legislation, les coutumes ; vos jugements fur la politique interieure 
et exterieure de la monarchic Efpagnole au ijjeme ftecle font d'une grande fermete 
et d'une complete impartiality ; enfin il y a dans le recit des evenements cette 
clarte parfaite, cette gravite fans effort et fobrement coloree, qui eft felon moi le 
vrai ftyle de l'hiftoire. 

Vous avez travaille ce fujet avec predilection, parceque la fe trouvent les 
prolegomenes de l'hiftoire du nouveau monde ou votre pays tient la premiere 
place ; continuez, Monfieur, a lui elever le monument dont vous venez de pofer 
la bafe. J'apprends avec peine que votre vue fe perd de nouveau, mais je fuis 
fans inquietude pour vos travaux a venir ; vous ferez comme moi, vous repeterez 
le devife du ftoicien Sujiine, abftine, et vous exercerez les yeux de l'ame a defaut 
des yeux du corps. Croyez, Monfieur, a ma vive fympathie pour une deftinee 
qui fous ce rapport reflemble a la mienne et agreez avec mes remerciments bien 
finceres l'expreffion de ma haute eftime et de mon devouement 

P. Aug. Thierry. 

Paris, le 17 Mars, 1840. 



The laft of the three letters from writers of hiftorical repu- 
tation is one 

FROM PATRICK FRASER TYTLER. 



34 Devonfhire Place [London], Monday, Feb. 24, 1840. 

My dear Sir, 

I truft you will pardon my fo addremng you, but it is impoflible for me to ufe 
any colder terms, in acknowledging your letter and the accompanying prefent 
of your " Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella." To the high merit of the work, 
and to the place it has now confefledly taken in European literature, I was no 
ftranger ; but to receive it as a mark of your approbation and regard, and to be 
addrefled from the New World as a brother laborer, greatly enhances the gift. 
I am indeed much encouraged when I find that anything I have done, or rather 
attempted to do, has given you pleafure, becaufe I can fincerely fay that I feel 
the value of your praife. You are indeed a lenient critic, and far overrate my 
labors, but it will, I believe, be generally found that they who know beft, and 
have moft fuccefsfully overcome, the difficulties of hiftorical refearch are the 
readieft to think kindly of the efforts of a fellow-laborer. 

I truft that you are again engaged on fome high hiftorical fubjedt, and fincerel) 
hope that your employing an amanuenfis is not indicative of any return of that 
fevere calamity which you fo cheerfully and magnanimoufly overcame in your 
" Ferdinand and Ifabella." At prefent I am intently occupied with the laft 



179 



Chap. XIV. 

1840. 
JEt. 43. 

Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



Refources of the 
blind. 



Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



i8o 


Chap. XIV. 


1840. 


&t. 43. 


liftory of Scot- 


land. 



William Hick ling Prescolt. 



Ferdinand and 
Ifabella." 



volume of my " Hiftory of Scotland," which embraces the painful and much- 
controverted period of Mary. I have been fortunate in recovering many letters 
and original papers, hitherto unknown, and hope to be able to throw fome new 
light on the obfcurer parts of her hiftory ; but it is full of difficulty, and I fome- 
times defpair. Such as it is, I fhall beg your kind acceptance of it and my other 
volumes as foon as it is publifhed. 
Believe me, dear Sir, 

With every feeling of refpect and regard, 

Moft truly yours, 

Patrick Fraser Tytler. 



Other letters followed, of which one, characteristic of its 
author, may be here inferted. 

FROM SAMUEL ROGERS, ESQ. 

My dear Sir, 
How ungrateful muft you have thought me in neglecting fo long to thank you 
for your invaluable prefent ; but, ftrange as it may be, I really imagined that 
I had done fo in a letter to our excellent friend Mr. Ticknor ; and, if I have not 
expreffed what I felt, I have not felt the lefs ; for I cannot tell you the delight 
with which I have read every page of your Hiftory, — a hiftory fo happy in the 
fubject, and, what is now a thing almoft unknown, fo well ftudied in the 
execution, — which, wherever it comes, interefts old and young, and is nowhere 
more efteemed than in the cities of Spain. Thinking of it as I muft, it can 
be no fmall confolation to me to learn that in what I have done, or rather 
attempted to do, I have given the author any pleafure, early or late. At my 
age, much as I may wifh for it, I have little chance of feeing you, though the 
diftance leflens every day. But I am determined to live, if I can, till you have 
finifhed what I underftand you are now writing ; a noble talk, and every way 
well worthy of you. 

Pray allow me to fubfcribe myfelf 

Your much obliged and fincere friend, 

Samuel Rogers. 

London, March 30, 1840. 



The next letter belongs to the important feries of thofe to 
the Spanifh fcholar who contributed (o much to Mr. Prefcott's 
fuccefs in preparing his "Hiftory of Philip the Second," 2 by 
collecting the larger portion of the materials for it. 

2 See ante y p. III. 



Letter to Don Pascual de Gayangos. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, June 20, 1840. 

My dear Sir, 
Our friend Ticknor has informed me, that you defired him to fay to me, that 
there are fome documents in the Britifh Mufeum relating to Mexico, which may 
I be of value to me. I am extremely obliged and nattered bv the friendly intereft 
' you take in mv literary labors, and I fhall be glad to avail myfelf of the 
treafures in the Mufeum. By a letter, dated April 4th, which you muft have 
received ere this, I mentioned to you, that I had received a large mafs of manu- 
fcripts from Madrid. 3 As my friend Mr. Sparks, with whofe high literary repu- 
tation you are probably acquainted, is going to London, where he will pafs fome 
months, I fend by him a lift of the documents which I poffefs relating to Mexico 
and Peru, that I may not receive duplicates of any from the Britifh Mufeum. 
If there are others of real value there relating to the Conquejh of thefe two 
kingdoms, I mould be very glad to have copies of them, and Mr. Sparks, whofe 
labors will require him to be much in the Britifh Mufeum, will do whatever you 
may advife in regard to having the copies made, and will forward them to me. 
I fhall be very glad if you can get fome one to fele£f. and copy from the corre- 
fpondence of Gonfalvo and the Catholic Kings, and Mr. Sparks will reimburfe 
you for the charges incurred on this account. But I fear, to judge from the 
fpecimen you have fent me, it will not be eafy to find one capable of reading 
fuch hieroglyphical characters as thefe worthy perfons made ufe of. 

I am glad to learn from Ticknor that you are on the eve of publifhing your 
Spanifh Hiftory. You have not mentioned the nature of the work, but I fup- 
pofe from the direction of your ftudies, as far as I underftand them, it is the 
Spanifh-Arabic Hiftory. If fo, it is a fplendid theme, which exhibits the 
mingled influences of European and Afiatic civilization, wonderfully picturefque 
and ftriking to the imagination. It is a fubjecl: which, to be properly treated, 
requires one who has wandered over the fcenes of faded grandeur, and ftored 
his mind with the rich treafures of the original Arabic. Very few fcholars are 
at all competent to the fubjecl:, and no one will rejoice more than myfelf in 
feeing it fall into your hands. But perhaps I have mifapprehended your work, 
as in your letter to Mr. Ticknor you merely call it a " Hiftory of Spain," and I 
fhall be obliged by your telling me, when you do me the favor to write, what is 
the precife nature and object of it. Since writing to you, I have received 
letters from my friend Calderon,4 the Spanifh Minifter at Mexico, com- 
municating fundry documents, which he has procured for me there, as the 
public offices have all been thrown open to him. This is very good luck. 
But the collections I had previouily from Spain were drawn, in part, from the 
fame fource. 



l8l 



Chap. XIV. 

1840. 
JEt. 44. 



Manufcripts in 
the Britifh 

Mufeum. 



Arabs in Spain. 



J This letter does not feem to have 
been preferved. 



4 See antCy p. 162. 



182 



Chap. XIV. 

1840. 
JEt. 44. 



AfMance of 
General Mil- 
ler. 



Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



Hiftory of the 
Spanifh Arabs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



MEMORANDA. 

Auguft 14, 1840. — General Miller, a very gallant and intelligent Englifh- 
man, who has filled the higheft pofts in the revolutionary wars of South 
America, has been at Nahant the laft fortnight, and leaves to-morrow. He 
brought letters to me, and I have derived great benefit as well as pleafure from 
his fociety. He has given me much information refpe6Hng military matters, and 
has looked into the accounts of the battles in my work, and pointed out a few 
inaccuracies. 5 

Auguft 15, 1840. — Monfieur Thierry, the author of the u Conqueft of 
England by the Normans," made the following remark in a letter the other day 
to Ticknor, which I cannot refufe myfelf the pleafure of tranfcribing, as it 
comes from one who is at the head of his art. 

" Si je pouvais renouer nos converfations d'il y a deux ans, je ne vous parlerais 
de la queftion du Canada, morte aujourd'hui, mais de Pavenir litteraire des 
Etats Unis, qui femblent vouloir prendre en ce point, comme en tout le refte, 
leur revanche fur la vieille Angleterre. J'ai dit a votre ami M. Prefcott, tout 
le plaifir que m'a fait fon livre. C'eft un ouvrage etudie a fond fur les fources, 
et parfaitement compofe. II y a la autant de talent de ftyle, et plus de liberte 
d'efprit que chez les meilleurs hiftoriens Anglais." 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, Feb. 1, 1841. 

My dear Friend, 
At laft I have received the welcome prefent of your volume on the "Spanifh 
Arabs," and the manufcripts of the " Great Captain." I cannot fufficiently 
exprefs to you my admiration of your work, publifhed, too, as it mould be, in 
fo fplendid a form. It far exceeds the expectations I had entertained, which, 
however, were great, knowing your own familiarity with the ground. 6 During 
the few days it has been in my pofTemon, I have greedily run over it, as well as 
my eyes, aided by thofe of another, would allow, and, though I have travelled 
over the ground before, as far as Spanifh writers have cleared the way, I now 
fee how much was left obfcure and mifunderftood, and perverted by the beft of 
them. The work you have fele£ted for translation is moft happily chofen, not 



5 General Miller died in South Amer- 
ica in 1 86 1, fixty-fix years old. An ac- 
count of the early part of his career was 
written by his brother, John Miller, of 
which the fecond edition was publiihed at 
London, in 2 vols., 8vo, 1829. It is an 
interefting book, involving a hiftory of 
much that was important in the affairs of 
South America, and was tranflated into 



Spanifh by General Torrijos, well known 
and much honored in the war of the Pen- 
infula, 1809- 1 8 14. 

6 " Hiftory of the Mohammedan Dy- 
nafties in Spain, from the Arabic of Al- 
Makkari, tranflated by Pafcual de Gayan- 
gos," 4to, Vol. I., London, 1 840 ; Vol. II., 
1843 ; publifhed by the " Oriental Tranf- 
lation Fund." 



Letter to Miss Ticknor. 



183 



1840. 

JEt. 44. 



only from its own merits, but from its embodying fo many copious extracts from Chap. XIV. 

other fources, that it is in itfelf a fort of abridgment or encyclopaedia of the 

choicer!: pafTages relating to the multifarious topics of which it treats. Thefe 

certainly are of great intereft and importance. But your own notes throw a 

light over the whole, which can only come from a life of previous ftudy 

in this department. 

I wifh it had been my good fortune to have had fuch a guide in my poor 
attempts among the remains of Arabian Spain. And how much am I gratified 
to find my own labors, fuch as they are, noticed by you with the beautiful 
encomium, which, when I read your learned and accurate pages, I feel I am 
poorly entitled to. Your book muft. certainly fuperfede all that has gone before 
it on this topic, the learned but unfatisfa&ory — I did not know how unfatif- 
fa&ory — labors of Conde, Mafdeu, Cafiri, Cardonne, &c. You have 
furnifhed a clear picture of that Afiatic portion of the Peninfular hiftory with- 
out which the European cannot be rightly interpreted or underftood. I, of 
courfe, have had time only to glance rapidly through thefe pages, and very imper- 
fectly. I mail return to them with more deliberation, when I come to a good 
refting-place in my own narrative. I am juft bringing my account of the ftate 
of the Aztec civilization to a clofe ; the moft perplexing and thorny part of Aztecs 
my own fubjecl:, which has coft me two years' labor. But I have wifhed to do 
it as thoroughly as I could, and I work much flower than you do, and, I 
fufpecl:, much lefs induftrioufly. 



From about this time he occafionally wrote letters to my 
eldeft daughter, and fent them to her juft as they came from 
his nodtograph, without being copied. Some of them are in- 
ferted, to fhow how pleafantly he accommodated himfelf to the 
tallies and humors of one (o young. 

TO MISS TICKNOR. 

oa. 1, 1840. 
My dear Anika,7 

You faid you mould like to try to make out my writing with my noc~tograph ; No&ograph 
fo I will give you a fpecimen of it, and believe, if you can decipher it, you will 
be qualified to read Egyptian papyri or the monuments of Palmyra. When in 
Europe, fome twenty years fince, I met with this apparatus, and have ufed it ever 
fince, by which my eyes have been fpared, and thofe of others feverely taxed. 
I hope you will never be reduced to fo poor a fubftitute for pen and ink. But if 
you are, I hope you will find as obliging an amanuenfis as you have been to me 
fometimes. 



7 A name he gave to her in order to 
diitinguifh her from her mother, whom he 



commonly called by her riril name, which 
was alfo Anna. 



1 84 



Chap. XIV. 

1840. 
JEt. 44. 

Lord Byron. 
His defedts. 



His merits. 



William Hickliitg Prescott. 



But to change the fubject, and take up one which we were fpeculating upon 
this morning at the breakfaft table, — Lord Byron. I think one is very apt to 
talk extravagantly of his poetry ; for it is the poetry of paflion, and carries away 
the fober judgment. It defies criticifm from its very nature, being lawlefs, in- 
dependent of all rules, fometimes of grammar, and even of common fenfe. 
When he means to be ftrong, he is often affected, violent, morbid ; if ftriking, is 
very obfcure, from dealing more in impreflions than ideas. And partly from 
affectation, I fuppofe, partly from want of principle, and partly from the ennui 
and difguft occafioned by long felf-indulgence and by naturally violent paffions, 
he is led into extravagances which outrage the reader, offend the tafte, and lead 
many perfons of excellent principles and critical difcernment to condemn him, 
both on the ground of moral and literary pretenfions. This is true, the more 
the pity. But then there is, with all this fmoke and fuftian, a deep fenfibility to 
the fublime and beautiful in nature, a wonderful melody, or rather harmony, of 
language, confifting, not in an unbroken flow of verification, like Pope or Camp- 
bell, but in a variety, — the variety of nature, — in which ftartling ruggednefs is 
relieved by foft and cultivated graces. As he has no narrative hardly in 
" Childe Harold," he would be very tirefome, if it were not for this very variety 
of manner, fo that what is a fault in itfelf produces a beautiful effect taken as a 
whole. He has great attractions, and, pouring out his foul unrefervedly, turns 
up the depths of feeling which even thofe who acknowledge the truth of it 
would fhrink from exprefling themfelves. — u There is a mefs for you," as 

D fays. When you have made this out, burn it, as a lady would fay. 

Addlo ! 



TO MISS TICKNOR. 

Pepperell, Od. 25, 1840. 

My dear Anika, 

You are fo clever at hieroglyphics that I mall fend you a little more of them 
to unravel at your leifure, and in time you may be qualified to make out a 
mummy wrapper or an obelifk infcription, as well as Champollion or Dr. 
Young. 

We were glad to learn you had reached the Yankee Athens in fafety. You 
fet out in a true wind from " The Horn," 8 — a cornucopia certainly you had 
of it. You left us all very fad and melancholic. The traveller on thefe occa- 



8 The name very often given on the 
fouthern coafl of MafTachufetts to " Cape 
Horn," which fo many of the people of 
that part of the country double in fearch 
of whales. I fpent two or three fummers 
there with my family ; and Mr. Prefcott, 
when he vifited us, ufed to be much 



amufed with the familiar manner in which 
that very remote part of the world was 
fpoken of, as if it were fome fmall cape 
in the neighborhood. The letter in the 
text was written immediately after we 
had returned to Boilon from a vifit to 
Pepperell. 






Letter to Miss Ticknor. 



fions finds new fcenes to divert him. But they who are left behind fee only the 
deferted halls, the vacant place at the board, which was lighted by the bright 
countenance of a friend. Abfence feems to be a negative thing, but there is 
nothing fo pofitive, nothing which touches us more fenfibly than the abfence of 
the faces we love from the feats in which we have been ufed to fee them. The 
traveller has always the beft of the bargain on thefe occafions, therefore. 

Well, we mail foon be in the gay metropolis with you. We have had many 
warnings to depart. The leaves have taken their leave, one after another. The 
fummer weather is quite fpent, and almoft the autumnal. The bright colors 
have faded, the naked trees flare around wildly, and, as the cold wind whiftles 
through them, the fhrivelled leaves that ftill hold out rattle like the bones 
of a felon hung in chains. The autumn feems to be dying, and wants only the 
cold winding-meet of winter to clofe the fcene. In facl:, (he is getting fome 
fhreds of this winding-meet before the time, for, while I am writing, the fnow- 
flakes are dancing before the window. There 's a mefs of romance for you, all 
done up in hieroglyphics. When you read Mrs. Radcliffe, or Mifs Porter, or 

Mifs any other mumbler of fcenery and fentiment, you '11 find it all 

there. Your papa talks of Mr. T 's fending me his book. Afk him if he 

has not mixed up Mr. T with Mr. D. T , very different men, I wot. 



185 


Chap. XIV. 

1840. 
£t. 44. 



up 



as 



I am glad he has feen General Miller. He is worth a wildernefs of 
Shakefpeare fays. 

Tell your papa and mamma, their maxims of education have not fallen on deaf 
ears, nor a ftony heart. But I believe this will be quite enough for once. 
I muft begin with fmall dofes. But it is fuch a comfort to find any one who 
can read me without my eternal amanuenfis at my elbows, where, to-day being 
Sunday, he is not now. Adieu, dear Anika. Do not forget Amory and E.'s 
love to Lizzy, and mine to your honored parents. 

I hope your reflected father gets on yet without his wij 
glaffes ! By the by, my mother loft her fpe&acles yefterday. 
been ranfacked for them in vain. They were a gold pair. — 
father carried them off? 

Once more addio ! 

Your affectionate uncle, 9 

Wm 



j, ear-trumpet, and 

All the town has 

Do you think your 



H. Prescott. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 



Bofton, Feb. 28, 1841. 



I have run into a moft interminable length of profing, and could not 

do worfe if I were writing to an abfolute far niente, inftead of one with whom 



9 There was no blood relationfhip be- 
tween us, but the children on both fides 
were always accuftomed to fpeak of us as 
24 



"uncles" and "aunts," while all round 
their elders accepted the defignatiOD as a 
pleafant mark of affection. 



Autumn. 



i86 



Chap. XIV. 

1841. 

^Et. 44. 

No&ograph. 



Marquis Gino 
Capponi. 



Livy. 



Voltaire's 
" Charles 
XII." 



William Hickling Prescott. 



minutes are gold-duft. You would fmile if you were to fee how I am writing 
with a writing-cafe made for the blind, in which I do not fee a word of what 
I write ; furnifhing a fcrawl as illegible as Gonfalvo's IO for my fecretary to 
tranfcribe. Adieu ! my dear friend. Pray accept my fincere congratulations 
on the happy addition to your family circle. I can fympathize with you, count- 
ing two boys and a girl, the youngeft of whom is ten years old. I mould like 
to prefent them to you, but ftill better to take you by the hand myfelf. And, 
now that fteam has annihilated time and fpace, that may come to pafs. 

I have received a letter from the Marquis Gino Capponi of Florence this 
morning, informing me that nearly half my work is tranflated into the language 
of Dante and Petrarch, and that the remainder would be completed before long 
under his fupervifion. You may know his reputation as a fcholar, which is high 
in Italy. 11 



MEMORANDA. 



March 21, 1841. — Am fairly now engaged, though not with thorough 
induftry, in beating the bullies for the narrative [of the Conqueft of Mexico]. 
— Laft week have been confidering the beft modus operandi, and been looking 
over fome celebrated narratives of individual enterprifes, as Voltaire's " Charles 
XII." and Livy's Expedition of Hannibal, lib. 22, 23, — the laft a mafterly 
ftory, in which the intereft, though fufpended by neceflary digreffion, — more 
neceffary in a general hiftory, — is never broken. The hiftorian, the greateft 
of painters, (hows his talent in pictures of natural fcenery, the horrors of the 
Alps and Apennines, as well as in the delineation of paffions. Voltaire's volume, 
fo popular, is very inferior in literary merit. It bears much refemblance to the 
goffiping memoir-writing of the nation, with little regard to hiftoric dignity ; not 
much method, or apparently previous digeftion of his fubjecl:. It has, however, 
the great requifite, in a work meant to be popular, that of intereji. This is 
maintained by the ftudious exhibition of Charles's remarkable character, with 
all its petty infirmities and crazy peculiarities. The eafy, carelefs arrangement 
of the narrative gives it a grace very taking. The ftyle, like Livy's (magis par 



10 Nothing can well be more difficult 
to decipher than the handwriting of the 
Great Captain. I have one of his auto- 
graph letters, but am nearly ignorant of 
its contents. 

11 A diftinguifhed fcholar, ftatefman, and 
man ; the head of a family mentioned by 
Dante, and great before Dante's time, as 
well as in many generations fince. The 
prefent Marquis (1862) is now entirely 
blind, and was nearly fo when he firll in- 
terefled himfelf in the tranflation of ''Fer- 



dinand and Ifabella " ; but he has never 
ceafed to maintain a high place in the 
affairs of his country, as well as in the 
refpecl: of his countrymen. He was at 
one time head of the government of Tuf- 
cany, and, notwithflanding his blindnefs, 
was Prefident of the Council of Advice in 
State Affairs, during the anxious period of 
the tranfition of power to the Kingdom of 
Italy. Their common infirmity caufed a 
great fympathy between the Marquis Cap- 
poni and Mr. Prefcott. 



Irving 's Co him fats. 



i8 7 



1841. 

Mr. 45. 

Chambers's 
Rebellion. 

Irving's Colum- 
bus. 



quam Jimilis), eafy and natural, gives additional charm. After all, Chambers's Chap. XIV. 
" Hiftory of the Rebellion of 1745 " is about as well-written, lively, and agree- 
able a narrative of an interefting event, and is managed altogether as fkilfullv, 
as any that I remember. 

Have been looking over Irving's "Columbus" alfo ; a beautiful compofition, 
but fatiguing, as a whole, to the reader. Why ? The fault is partly in the fub- 
ject, partly in the manner of treating it. The difcoverv of a new world — 
the refult of calculation and an energy that rofe above difficulties that would 
have daunted a common mind — is a magnificent theme in itfelf, full of 
fublimity and intereft. But it terminates with the difcoverv ; and unfortunatelv 
this is made before half of the firft volume is difpofed of. All after that event 
is made up of little details, the failing from one petty ifland to another, all in- 
habited bv favages, and having the fame general character. Nothing can be 
more monotonous, and, of courfe, more likely to involve the writer in barren 
repetition. The chief intereft that attaches to the reft of the ftorv is derived 
from the navigator's own perfonal misfortunes, and thefe are not exciting enough 
to create a deep or ftrong fenfation. Irving fhould have abridged this part of 
his ftory, and, inftead of four volumes, have brought it into two. Pofteritv 
mav do this for him. But it is better for an author to do his own work 
himfelf. 

The Conqueft of Mexico, though very inferior in the leading idea which 
forms its bafis to the ftorv of Columbus, is, on the whole, a far better fub- 
ject, fmce the event is fufficientlv grand, and, as the cataftrophe is deferred, the in- 
tereft is kept up through the whole. Indeed, the perilous adventures and erodes 
with which the enterprife is attended, the defperate chances and reverfes and 
unexpected viciffitudes, all ferve to keep the intereft alive. On my plan, I go 
on with Cortes to his death. But I muft take care not to make this tail-piece 
too long. A hundred pages will be quite enough. 



Conqueft of 
Mexico. 



TO MISS TICKNOR. 



My dear Anika, 



Fitful Head [Nahant], July 25, 1841 



What a nice quiet time you have had of it for reading or fleeping, or 
anything elfe that is rational. Has the fpirit of improvement befet you in 
your folitude, and carried vou through as much metaphyfics and Spanifh 
as it has your refpected parents ? or have vou been meandering among 
romances and poeticals? You have read Irving's "Memoirs of Mifs David- 
fon," I believe. Did vou ever meet with any novel half fo touching ? It 
is the moft painful book' I ever liftened to. I hear it from the children, and 
we all crv over it together. What a little flower of Paradife ! Do you re- 
member Malherbe's beautiful lines, — which I happen juft now not to, — 

" Et comme une rofe elle a vecu 
L'eTpace d'un matin," — 



Irving's Life of 
Pavid- 
fon. 



i88 



Chap. XIV. 



JEt. 45. 



Vifit to Wood' 
Hole. 



Portrait of 
Cortes. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



and Young's, no lefs beautiful, — 

" She fparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven " ? 

Her whole life was one dying day, — one long heart-break. How fitting that 
her beautiful character fhould be embalmed in the delicate compofition of Ir- 
ving! Read over her farewell to Ruremont, if you forget it. It is really a 
fad fubje6t. 

Well, we defcend on "The Hole" on Tuefday next. 12 William Prefcott ift, 
2d, and 3d will make the party. Three perfons and one name, — juft the op- 
pofite of my friends the Spaniards, who each have a dozen names at leaft. 
On Monday, the 2d of Auguft, we embark on the great Providence Railroad; 
reach New Bedford, we hope, that evening ; pafs the night in that great com- 
mercial emporium of the fpermaceti ; and the next morning by noon mail em- 
brace the dear " Toads in the Hole." And as we can't get away, and you 
won't turn us out the while, we (hall befiege you till Friday \ and, if you are 
tired of us, you can fend us to fee Mr. Swain, 1 3 or to the ancient city of Nan- 
tucket ; not a literary emporium, though I believe it fmells of the lamp 
pretty ftrong. I feel quite in the trim of a little vagabondizing, having fairly 

worked myfelf down Indeed, my father and I half arranged a little 

journey before vifiting you, but I fhowed the white feather, as ufual. I mean to 
date health and fpirits and renovated induftry from the vifit to " Wood's 
Hole." 

Don't you think our traveller, Palenque Stephens, would fmile at our great 
preparations in the travelling line ? I was in town yefterday, and faw a picture 
which came from Mexico, a full-length of Cortes, in armor the upper part of 
his body ; his nether extremities in a fort of ftockinet, like the old cavaliers of the 
fixteenth century, — a very ftriking and pi&urefque coftume, fuperior to my 
Spanifh painting in execution. But it is too large, and carries an acre of canvas, 
feven feet by four and a half. I called a council of war as to the expediency 
of cutting his feet off, but Mr. Folfom came in at the moment, and faid I never 
fhould forgive myfelf; fo I have concluded to frame him, legs and all. But 
my wife thinks I mail have to ferve him like the Vicar of Wakefield's great fam- 
ily picture, he is fo out of all compafs. 

Well, here I am, dear Anika, at the end of my letter. Let us know if our 
arrangements can be altered for the better, — i. e. if you are to be without 
company. Love to your father and mother. All of us fend much love to you 
and them. 

Believe me, mofl truly, 

Your affectionate uncle, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



12 We were then paffing the fummer at 
" Wood's Hole," on the fouthern fhore of 

MafTachufetts. 



T * On the adjacent ifland of Naufhon, 
where Mr. Swain lived. 



Memoranda, 



MEMORANDA. 

March 22, 1842. — My good friends the Ticknors received this laft week 
a letter from Mifs Edgeworth, containing a full critique on " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," which file had juft been reading. She condemns my parallel of the 
Englifh and Caftilian queens, and alfo my clofing chapter ; the former as not 
fatisfa&ory and full enough, and rather feeble ; the latter as fuperfluous. I will 
quote two remarks of another kind : " It is of great confequence both to the 
public and private clafs of readers, and he will furely have readers of all 
claries, from the cottage and the manufactory to the archbifhopric and the 
throne in England, and from Papal jurifdiction to the Ruffian Czar and the 
Patriarch of the Greek Church. The work will laft," &c. If Jupiter grants 
me half the prediction, I fhall be pretty well off for readers. The other fen- 
tence is towards the end of the critique : " Otherwife an individual ought not 
to expect that a fingle voice mould be heard amidft the acclaim of univerfal 
praife with which his work has been greeted in Europe." — This from Mifs 
Edgeworth. 

I never worked for the dirty lucre. Am I not right in treafuring up fuch 
golden opinions from fuch a fource ? 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, March 27, 184a. 

I received from Mr. Everett by this fteamer copies of a correfpond- 

ence of the Tufcan ambafladors at Philip's court, giving fome very interefting 
details of the proceedings, and all in favor of the monarch. J 4 I wrote you to fee 
Mr. Everett, J 5 who will, I am fure, take pleafure in communicating with you. 
I have written to him by this packet, that I have afked you to call on him, as 
he was out when you went before. He is much occupied with perplexing af- 
fairs, but I have never found him too much fo for his friends. Should you find 
any impediment to the examination in the State Office, he will ufe his influence 
in your favor, I am certain. And I think you had better get a letter from him 
to Mignet or Guizot. Lord Morpeth, who was here this winter, offered me his 
fervices to obtain anything I defired. But that will be too late for you, as he 
will not return till fummer. But if there remains anything to be dene then, let 
me know, and I can get at it through him. 



189 



'4 On the death of Don Carlos. He had 
now, as we have feen, been fome time col- 
lecting materials for his Hiflory of Philip 
the Second. 



'5 Then Minifter of the United States 
in London. See poft, for Mr. Prefcott's 
correfpondence with him. 



Chap. XIV. 

1842. 
JEt. 45. 

Ferdinand and 
Ifabella. 



190 



Chap. XIV. 

1842. 
JEt. 46. 



Value of me- 
moirs. 



Materials for 
" Philip the 
Second." 



Robertfon's 
" Charles 
Fifth." 



the 



William Hick ling Prescott 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, May 30, 1842. 

My dear Friend, 

I have not written by the laft packets, having nothing particular to fay. 
I have received yours of the 2d of April, and am glad you have feen Mr. Everett, 
and are pleafed with him. I am fure he will give you any facility in his power 
for getting accefs to the French depofitories. I mould fuppofe a line from him 
to Mignet would be ferviceable. 

You have found the Britifh Mufeum a much richer field than you had firft 
anticipated, and the length of your ftay in London, fortunately for me, will en- 
able you to reap the harveft. You mention one or two chronicles or memoirs 
which you have met with there. I have always found a good, goffiping 
chronicle or memoir the beft and moft fruitful material for the hiftorian. 
Official documents, though valuable on other accounts, contain no private 
relations ; nothing, in fhort, but what was meant for the public eye. Even 
letters of bufinefs are very apt to be cold and general. But a private cor- 
refpondence like Peter Martyr's, or a chronicle like Pulgar's, or Bernal Diaz's, 
or Bernaldez's, is a jewel of ineftimable price. There is nothing fo fervice- 
able to the painter of men and manners of a diftant age. Pray get hold of 
fuch, in manufcript or in print. 

I hope you will get for me whatever printed books fall in your way, ufeful for 
a hiftory of that reign. And I mail be much obliged by your making out a 
lift of all fuch as may be defirable for me hereafter to get, as you promife to do. 
I can then pick them up at my leifure. I find fome referred to in Ferreras, and 
others in Nic. Antonio. I am truly glad you are going to Madrid foon, or in 
the courfe of a couple of years. I mail be moft happy to leave the collection 
then all in your hands, and, while Irving is there, I am fure you can count on 
his fervices, if they can be worth anything to you to get accefs to any archives 
which may be under the control of the government. He has aflured me of his 
cordial defire to promote my views and Ticknor's in our refearches. You will 
bear in mind, in the copying, to get it done in as legible a hand as poffible. 
I don't care for the beauty of it, fo it is legible. I fuppofe in Paris, and I know 
in Madrid, the expenfe will be greatly lightened. 

I am very much obliged by your great kindnefs in fending me your own col- 
lection of manufcripts. They have all reached me fafely, as I defired Mr. Rich 
to inform you. They are a moft curious and valuable collection to the hiftorian 
of the period. But Charles V. has been handled by Robertfon, and I have not 
the courage nor the vanity to tread where he has gone before. I do not think 
the hiftory of his period will make as good a pendant to " Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella" as Philip the Second will. Philip's reign is the firft ftep towards the decline, 
as Ifabella's was the laft ftep in the rife, of the Spanifh monarchy. I hope to treat 
this great theme in all its relations, literary, focial, and political. It will be a 
ten years' work. Da, 'Jupiter, annos. 



Letters from Mr. Ford and Mr. Tytler. 



191 



FROM RICHARD FORD, ESQ. 

Hevitre, near Exeter, June 5, 1842. 

My dear Sir, 

Permit me to offer you my very beft thanks for the copy of your laft edition 
of " Ferdinand and Ifabella," which you have been fo kind as to direct Mr. 
Bentley to fend to me. I have lived fo long in Spain, and particularly in the 
Alhambra, that tV work pofTefles for me a more than ordinary intereft, great as 
is that which it hasinipired in readers of all countries. Indeed, it is a Hiftory 
of which America, and, if you will allow me to fay fo, England, has every reafon 
to be moft proud, and of which it may be juftly faid, as was faid of Gibbon's, 
that, although the firft to grapple with a vaft fubjecl:, it has left no room for any 
future attempt. 

I hope that, having now flefhed your pen, you will foon refume it, — non 
in reluffantes dracones. Our mutual friend Pafcual de Gayangos has often fug- 
gefted, as an almoft virgin fubjecl:, the life of Philip the Second. The poor 
performance of Watfon is beneath notice. What a new and noble field for 
vou, what an object for a tour to Europe to infpecT: the rich archives of Eng- 
land, Paris, and Simancas, where, as I can tell you from perfonal infpe&ion, the 
ftate papers, interlined by Philip himfelf, are moft various and numerous 



FROM P. F. TYTLER, ESQ, 

London, 34 Devonfhire Place, June 6, 1842. 

My dear Sir, 

I entreat your kind acceptance of a copy of the fecond edition of the " Hiftory 
of Scotland." A fingle additional volume — the ninth — will complete the 
work, bringing it down to the union of the crowns in 1603, and I then purpofe, 
if God grant me health, to write an introductory differtation on the more ancient 
hiftory of Scotland in another volume. In the mean time, although ftill an un- 
finifhed work, I hope you will place it in your library as a teftimony, flight 
indeed, but moft fincere, of the pleafure and inftrucl:ion your excellent Hiftory 
has given me, and, I may add, my family. I feel, too, that in the love of 
hiftory, for its own fake, there is a common and congenial tie, which, although 
fo far feparated, binds us together, and that one who has, like you, fo fuccefshillv 
overcome the difficulties of hiftory, will make the readieft allowance for the 
errors of a brother. 

I met fome time ago at Lady Holland's a Spanifh gentleman, 16 who in- 
formed me of your having wifhed him to examine for you the manufcripts in 



Chap. XIV, 

1842. 
JEt. 46. 



Hiftory of Scot- 
land. 



16 Don Pafcual de Gayangos. 



192 



Chap. XIV. 

1842. 
JEt. 46. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



the State Paper Office about the time of. Philip and Mary. When writing, or 
rather making collections for, my u Letters during the Reigns of Edward the 
Sixth and Mary," I made a good many tranfcripts connected with the hiftory 
of Philip and Mary, which, if they could be of the leaft fervice to you, are much 
at your difpofal. 

Believe me, dear Sir, 

With fincere regard and refpecl:, 

Very truly yours, 

Patrick Fraser Tytler. 




193 




CHAPTER XV. 

1 839 -i 8 44 . 

Materials for the il Conqueft of Mexico." — Imperjetl Induftry. — Improved 
State of the Eye. — Begins to write. — Difficulties. — Thoroughness. — 
Interruptions. — Lord Morpeth. — Vifits to New York and Lebanon 
Springs. — c< Conqueft of Mexico " finifhed. — Sale of Right to publifh. — 
Illnefs of his Father. — Partial Recovery. — £C Conqueft of Mexico " pub- 
lifhed. — Its Succefs. — Reviews of it. — Letters to Mr. Lyell and Don 
Pafcual de Gayangos. — From Mr. Gallatin. — To Lord Morpeth and 
to Gayangos. — From Mr. Hallam and Mr. Everett. — Memoranda. — 
Letter from Lord Morpeth. — Letters to Dean Milman and Mr. J. C. 
Hamilton. — Letters from Mr. Tytler and Dean Milman. 

ROM the letter to Mr. Irving at the beginning 
of the laft chapter, we have feen that Mr. Pref- 
cott's earlier apprehenfion about the failure of 
his application at Madrid for manufcripts con- 
cerning the " Conqueft of Mexico" was • not 
well founded. He had excellent friends to 
affift him, and they had fucceeded. The chief of them were 
Don Angel Calderon, Mr. A. H. Everett, then our Minifter in 
Spain, and Mr. Middleton, his Secretary of Legation, who had 
been Mr. Prefcott's claffmate and college chum, — all of whom 
were earneft and helpful, — to fay nothing of Dr. Lembke, 
who was in his fervice for a confiderable time, collecting man- 
ufcripts, and was both intelligent and efficient. Mr. Preicott, 
therefore, no longer feared that he mould fail to obtain all he 
25 




Chap. XV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 

Materials for the 
" Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



194 



Chap. XV. 

1839. 
JEt. 43. 



Induftry. 



State of his eye, 



Plan of work. 



William Hick ling Prescott 



could reafonably expect. But his induftry, which he thought 
had needed only this ftimulus, did not come with the promife 
of abundant materials for its exercife. During three months 
he did very little, and records his regrets more than once in 
terms not to be miftaken. 

In May, 1839, however, he was better fatisfied with himfelf 
than he had been for at leaft two years. " I have begun," he 
fays, " to lay my bones to the work in good earneft. The laft 
week I have read a variety of authors, — i. e. looked into 
them, affording illuftration, in fome way or other, of the 
Mexican fubjecl:. Yefterday I completed my forty-third birth 
and my nineteenth wedding day. If they do not prove happy 
days for me, it is my own fault." And again, a week later : 
"An induftrious week for me. My eyes have done me fair 
fervice; and when I do not try them by expofure to light, the 
hot air of crowded rooms, and the other et cater as of town life, 
I think I can very generally reckon on them for fome hours a 
day. The laft winter they have not averaged me more than 
one hour; my fault in a great meafure, I fufpecV 

Except from occafional expofures to lights in the evening, 
I think he fuffered little at this time, and, as he now put him- 
felf into rigorous training for work, and avoided everything that 
could interfere with it, I fuppofe it was the period when, for 
three or four years, he enjoyed more of the bleflings of fight 
than he did during the rest of his life fubfequent to the 
original injury. Certainly he ufed with diligence whatever he 
poffeffed of it, and fometimes feemed to revel prefumptuoufly 
in the privileges its very partial reftoration afforded him. 

After two or three months of careful preliminary reading on 
the fubjecl: of Mexico generally, he formed a plan for the 
whole work much as he fubfequently executed it, although, as 
in the cafe of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," he for a long 
time hoped it would not exceed two volumes. The compo- 
fition he began October 14th, 1839. But he had gone only a 
few pages, when he became diffatisfied with what he had done, 
and rewrote them, faying, " One would like to make one's 






Reading for "Conquest of Mexico." 



195 



Chap. XV. 



introductory bow in the beft ftyle" ; and adds, " The fcenery- 
painting with which it opens wants the pencil of Irving." 1839. 

This, however, was only the beginning of his troubles. The ^ T - 43- 
firft part of the work he had undertaken was difficult, and coft 
him more labor than all the reft. It involved neceffarily the 
early traditions and hiftory of Mexico, and whatever related 
to its peculiar civilization before the Conqueft and during the 
period when that extraordinary event was going on. It is true, j 
he foon difcovered that much of what paiTes for curious learn- obfcumies of 
ing in the manifold difcuffions of this obfcure fubject is only 
" mift and moonfhine fpeculations," and that Humboldt is "the 
firft, almoft the laft writer on thefe topics, who, by making 
his theories conform to facts, inftead of bending his facts to 
theories, truly merits the name of a philofopher." Notwith- 
ftanding, however, the fmall value he found himfelf able to 
place on moft of the writers who had examined the Mexican 
traditions and culture, he read all who might be confidered 
authorities upon the fubject, and even many whofe works were 
only in a remote degree connected with it. Thus, he not only wide ftudi 
went carefully over all that Humboldt had written, and all 
he could find in the old printed authorities, like Herrera, 
Torquemada, and Sahagun, together with the vaft documen- 
tary collections of Lord Kingfborough, and the " Antiqui- 
tes Mexicaines"; but he liftened to the manufcript accounts 
of Ixtlilxochitl, of Camargo, Toribio, and Zuazo. He com- 
pared whatever he found in thefe with the oldeft records of 
civilization in other countries, — with Herodotus, Cham- 
pollion, and Wilkinfon for Egypt ; with Marco Polo and Sir 
John Mandeville for the Eaft ; and with Gallatin, Du Ponceau, 
McCulloh, Heckewelder, and Delafield for our own continent. 
Nothing, in fhort, feemed to efcape him, and it is curious to fee 
in his notes how aptly, and with what grace, he draws con- 
tributions from Elphinftone, Milman, and Lyell, — from 
Homer, Sophocles, Southey, and Schiller, — and, finally, what 
happy feparate facts he collects from all the travellers who 
have at any time vifited Mexico, beginning with old Bernal 



196 



Chap. XV. 

1840. 
JEt. 44. 



Confcientious 
labor. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Diaz, and coming down to the very period when he himfelf 
wrote, — I mean to that of Bullock, Ward, and Stephens. 

Such ftudies for the deep foundations of the epic fuper- 
ftrucliure he contemplated were, of courfe, the work of time, 
and demanded not a little patience, — more, in fact, of both 
than he had forefeen. He had reckoned for his Introduction 
one hundred pages. It turned out two hundred and fifty. He 
thought that he could accomplifh it in fix months. It took 
nearly a year and a half, not counting the year he gave to pre- 
paratory reading on Mexico generally. Three months, indeed, 
before he put pen to paper, his notes already filled four hundred 
pages; and fubfequently, when he mowed them to me, as the 
compofition was in progrefs, their mass was ftill greater. I do 
not know an inftance of more confcientious labor ; the more 
worthy of note, becaufe it dealt with fubjects lefs agreeable to 
his taftes and habits than any others to which he ever de- 
voted himfelf. 1 

For the reft of his hiftory he prepared himfelf, not only by 
reading fome of the great mafters of hiftorical narrative, but 
by noting down in what particulars their example could be 
ufeful to him. This he found a very pleafant and encouraging 
fort of work, and it enabled him to go on with fpirit. Not 
that he failed to find, from time to time, interruptions more or 
lefs ferious, which checked his progrefs. One of thefe inter- 



1 After going carefully through with 
the hieroglyphical writing of the Aztecs, 
he fays : " Finifhed notes on the hiero- 
glyphical part of the chapter, — a hard, 
barren topic. And now on the aftronomy, 
— out of the frying-pan into the fire. I 
find it, however, not fo hard to compre- 
hend as I had anticipated. Fortunately, 
the Aztec proficiency does not require a 
knowledge of the 'Principia.' Still it was 
enough to tafk all my mathematics, and 
patience to boot ; it may be the reader's, 
too." 

On this part of his labors, Mr. Gardi- 
ner well remarks: " In earlier life he ufed 
to fancy that his mind was conftitutionally 



incapable of comprehending mathematical 
truths, or at leafl of following out mathe- 
matical demonftrations beyond the com- 
mon rules of arithmetic. It was a miftake. 
They were only hard for him, and uncon- 
genial ; and, at the period referred to, he 
avoided real intellectual labor as much as 
he could. But now, though with no pre- 
vious training, he did overcome all fuch 
difficulties, whenever they lay in the way 
of his hiftorical inveftigations, whether on 
the coins and currency of the time of 
Ferdinand and Ifabella, or on the aftrono- 
my of the Aztecs. It is a ftriking proof 
of the power his will had acquired over 
his intelle&ual taftes and propenfities." 



Abridgment of "Ferdinand and Isabella." 197 



ruptions occurred almoft immediately after he had completed Cha p- XV. 
his fevere labor on the Introduction. It was the project for a 1841. 
vifit to England, which tempted him very much, and occupied &t. 45. 
and disturbed his thoughts more than it needed to have done. . 
Speaking of his work on his Hiftory, he fays: "Now, why, to England. 
mould I not go ahead ? Becaufe I am thinking of going to 
England, to pafs four months in the expedition, and my mind 
is diftraclxd with the pros and cons." And, ten days later, he 
fays : " Have decided, at length, — after as much doubt and 
deliberation as moft people would take for a voyage round the 
world, — and decided not to go to England." He thought 
he had given up the project for life. Happily this was not 
the cafe. 

Another interruption was caufed by a threatened abridgment 
of his "Ferdinand and Ifabella," the untoward effect of which 
he determined to foreftall by making an abridgment of it him- 
felf. This annoyed him not a little. After giving an account 
of a pleafant journey, which our two families took together, 
and which greatly refrefhed him, he goes on : — 

"The week fince my return, lazv and liftlefs and dreamy. 0? pot. And 
I mull now — thermometer at 90 in the fhade — abandon my Mexican friends 
and the pleafant regions of the plateau for — horrefco referens — an abridgment 

of my ' Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella.' Nothing but the dire 

necemty of protecting myfelf from piracy induces me to do this unnatural work, 
— fweating down my full-grown offspring to the fize of a pygmy, — dwarfing 
my own conception from, I truft, a manly ftature, to the compafs of a nurfery 
capacity. I never was in love with my own compofitions. I (hall hammer 
over them now, till they give me the vomito" 2 



Difgufted with his work, — which, after all, he never pub- 
limed, as the idea of the piratical abridgment was early given 
up by the bookfelling houfe that threatened it, — he finifhed it 
as foon as he could. But whether it was the diiagreeablenefs 
of the tafk or the earneftnefs of his labors, it was too much 

2 It fhould be remembered that, when The fame difguft is exprefled in - 

! he wrote this pafTage, he had jufl been de- his letters at the time, in which he feys 

fcribing this terrible fcourge itfelf. (Con- that he went through the whole work in 

queft of Mexico, Vol. I. pp. 394, etc.) twenty-four days. 



Threatened 
abridgment of 
" Ferdinand 
and Ifabella. " 



Make- one him- 
felf. 



198 



William Hick ling; Prescott. 



Chap. XV. f or him. He grew feeble and liftlefs, and came, as already 
1 841. noticed in one of his letters, with his father, to vifit us for a 
&t. 45. few days on the fouthern coaft of MafTachufetts at Wood's 
Hole, where the milder fea-breezes might, he thought, prove 
beneficial. 

On the 9th of Auguft he records : — 



Overwork. 



Works more 
eafily. 



Lord Morpeth. 



" I have done nothing except the abridgment, fince May 26, when I went 
on a journey to Springfield. My health muft be my apology the laft three 
weeks, and a vifit, from which I returned two days fince, to my friends at 
Wood's Hole, — an agreeable vifit, as I anticipated. Nahant has not ferved 
me as well as ufual this fummer. I have been forely plagued with dyfpeptic 
debility and pains. But I am refolved not to heed them more, and to buckle on 
my harnefs for my Mexican campaign in earneft again, though with more 
referve and moderation." 



This was a little adventurous, but it was fuccefsful. He 
worked well during the reft of Auguft at Nahant, and when, 
in the autumn, we vifited him as ufual at Pepperell, where he 
went early in September, we found him quite reftored, and en- 
joying his ftudies heartily. The laft days there were days of 
great activity, and he returned to Bofton, as he almoft always 
did, with no little reluctance. Writing at the end of October, 
he fays : — 

" Leave Pepperell on Wednesday next, November 3. Yefterday and the 
afternoon previous, beginning at four P. M., I wrote on my Chapter IV. (Book 
III.) between eighteen and nineteen pages print, — or twelve pages per diem. 
I fhall foon gallop to the c Finis ' at this pace. But Bofton ! The word in- 
cludes a thoufand obftacles. Can I not overcome them ? " 

One of thefe obftacles, however, which he encountered as 
foon as he reached town, was a very pleafant one, and the fource 
of much happinefs to him afterwards. He found there Lord 
Morpeth, now the Earl of Carlifle, who had juft arrived on 
a vifit to the United States, and who fpent feveral weeks in 
Bofton. They foon became acquainted, and an attachment 
fprang up between them almoft at once, which was interrupted 
only by death. 

How warm it was on the part of Lord Morpeth will be 



Letter from Lord Morpeth. 



199 



plainly feen by the following letter, written not long after he 
left Bofton. 



La Habana, March 30, 1842. 

My dear Prescott, 

You are about the firft perfon in my life who has made me feel in a hurry to 
write to him ; and I have really forborne hitherto, from thinking it might crofs 
your mind that you had got rather more of a bargain than you wifhed when we 
made our correfponding compact. I am fure, you have a very faint idea of the 
pleafure I derive from the thoughts of the acquaintance which has been fo fhort, 
and the friendfhip which is to be fo lafting between us ; and whenever, as has, 
however, been very feldom the cafe, matters have not gone quite fo pleafantly 
on my journey, and the queftion, " Was it worth while after all ? " would juft 
prefent itfelf, " Yes, I have made acquaintance with Prefcott," has been the 
readier!, and moft efficacious anfwer. I ftop, though, left you mould imagine 
I have caught the Spanifh infection of compliments. It is at leaft appropriate 
to write to you from Spanifh ground. 

I have now been in this iiland about a fortnight, having fpent moft of the firft 
week in Havana, and returned to it this afternoon from an expedition into the 
interior. I was entrapped into a dreadfully long pafTage from Charlefton in an 
American failing packet, having been almoft guaranteed a maximum of fix 
days, whereas it took us thirteen. Painfully we threaded the coaft of Georgia 
and Florida, 



"And wild Altama mi 



■ed to our woe." 



However, we did arrive at laft, and nothing can be conceived more picturefque 
than the entrance into this harbor under the beetling rock of the fortrefs, or 
lb peculiar, un-Englifh, un-American, un-Boftonian, as the appearance of every- 
thing — houfes, ftreets, perfons, vehicles — that meets your eye. I take it 
to be very Spanifh, modified by the black population and the tropical growths. 
I have been on a ten days' expedition into the interior, and have vifited fundry 
fugar and coffee eftates. At one of thefe, the Count Fernandina's, I had great 
fatisfaction in meeting the Calderons. I immediately felt that you were a link 
between us, and that I had a right to be intimate with them, which I found it was 
very well worth while to be on their own account alfo. There is great fimplicity 
of character, as well as abundant fenfe and good feeling, about him, and I think 
her moft remarkably agreeable and accomplifhed. I leave you to judge what a 
refource and aid they muft have been to me in a country-houfe, where every- 
body elfe was talking Spanifh. We did all think it a pity that you had not gone 
to vifit them in Mexico ; there is fo much truth in the^ Horatian rule about 
" oculis fubjecta fidelibus," but, my dear and good friend", perhaps you think 
that is not the epithet exactly to be applied to you. They rave, efpcciallv 
Madame C, of what they faw during their equeftrian exploration in Mexico, 
the climate and the products of every latitude, the virgin forefts, of everything 
but the ftate of fociety, which feems almoft hopeleflly diforganized and 



18, 

JEt. 



46. 



Pleafure in 
Prefcott's 
friendihip. 



Havana. 



The Calderons. 



200 



Chap. XV. 
1842. 

&T. 46. 



Slavery. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



ftranded. With refpect to Cuban fcenery, I think I can beft condenfe my im- 
preffion as follows : — 

" Ye tropic forefts of unfading green, 

Where the palm tapers and the orange glows, 
Where the light bamboo weaves her feathery fcreen, 
And her far made the matchlefs ceiba throws ! 

" Ye cloudlefs ethers of unchanging blue, 

Save when the rofy llreaks of eve give way 
To the clear fapphire of your midnight hue, 
The burnifhed azure of your perfedt day ! 

" Yet tell me not, my native fkies are bleak, 

That, flufhed with liquid wealth, no cane-fields wave ; 
For Virtue pines, and Manhood dares not fpeak, 
And Nature's glories brighten round the flave." 

Shall you be in a hurry to afk me to write again when you fee what it brings upon 
you ? I only wifh you would pay me in kind by fending me any bit of a more 
favorite pafTage, a more fpecial infpiration, a Pifgah morfel, out of your Hiftory, 
as it runs along. By the way, upon the fubject of my laft line, and as you know 
that I do not for the firft time afTume the function of faying things difagreeable 
and impertinent, I do not think that you feemed to pofTefs quite the fufficient 
repugnance to the fyftem of flavery. Come here to be duly imprefled. Will 
you very kindly remember me to all the members of your family, from the ex 
to the growing Judge. If you ever have a mind to write to me, Sumner will be 
always able to afcertain my direction from Mr. Lewis. Give that good friend of 
ours my bleiling ; I wifh it were as valuable as a wig. If I could give you a 
ftill ftronger affurance of my wifh to be always pleafantly remembered by you, 
it is that, exceilively as I mould like to hear from you at all times, I yet had 
rather you did not write when not entirely inclined to do fo. I fet off for 
New Orleans next week. You fee, that I have had the good fortune to 
lofe my election, which makes me more able to encourage the hope that 
we may yet meet again on the foil of your republic. That would be very 
pleafant. 

Believe me, ever, 

Your affectionate friend, 

Morpeth. 

There is no allufion to this new friendfhip among the 
literary memoranda, except the following, made immediately 
after Lord Morpeth was gone : — 

" December 28th, 1841. Finifhed text, twenty-three pages of print, and 
the notes to Chapter VIII. Oi' pot, o'L /aoi. Not a page a day. So much for 



Visits to New York, 



20I 



dinners, flippers, Lord Morpeth, and nonfenfe. I wifh I may never have a Chap. XV. 
worfe apology, however, than his Lordmip, — a beautiful fpecimen of Britifh i 
ariftocracy in mind and manners. But what has it all to do with the "*" 

' Conqueft of Mexico'? If I don't mend, my Spaniards will ftarve among 
the mountains. I will ! " 

And this time he kept his refolution. During the reft of 
the winter of 1841-1842, he worked hard and fuccefsfully, 
but made few memoranda. Under the 7th of May, however, 
I find the following : — 



Viiits to New 
York. 



ct Another long hiatus. Since laft entrv paid two vifits to New York, — 
a marvellous event in mv hiftorv ! Firft, a vifit, about three weeks fince, I paid 
to meet Wafhington Irving before his departure for Spain. Spent half a dav 
with him at Wainwright's,3 — indeed, till twelve at night. Found him delight- ' Washington 
ful and — what, they say, is rare — wide awake. He promifes to aid me in 
all my applications. Stayed but two days. Second vifit, April 25, and flayed till 

May 3 ; went to fee an oculifl, Dr. , at requeft of friends, — my own faith 

not equal to the minimum requifite, — the grain of muftard-ieed. I confumed 
about a week or more in inquiring about him and his cafes. Returned re infefta. 
PafTed a very agreeable week, having experienced the warmed welcome from 
the good people of New York, and feen what is mofl worthy of attention in 
their fociety. The life I have led there, leaving my eyes uninjured, fhows 
that, when I do not draw on them by conflant literary labors, I can bear a great 
expofure to light and company. During my abfence 1 have been to bed no night 
till twelve or later, and have dined every day with a dinner party in a blaze of 

light. Now for the old Aztecs again Shall I not work well after my 

holiday ? " 

But he did not. He found it as hard as ever to buckle on 
his harnefs afrefh, and complained as much as ever of his in- 
dolence and liftleffhefs. He however wrote a few pages, and 
then broke off, and we went — I mean both our families went 
— to Lebanon Springs, of which he made the following rec- 
ord: — 

" Next day after to-morrow, June 2, I am going a journey with our friends 
the Ticknors to Lebanon Springs, and then 

1 To frefh fields and paftures new.' " 



Vifit to Lebanon 
Springs. 



3 The Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, 

afterwards Bifhop of the Diocefe of New 

York. He had been from an earlier 

period a friend of Mr. Prefcott, a mem- 

26 



ber of his Club in Bolton, and for ionic 
time, as Reclor of Trinity Church, his 
clergvman. Bifhop Wainwright died in 
1854. 



202 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
JEt. 47. 



Induftry. 



" Conqueft of 
Mexico " 
completed. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



"June 11. — Returned from my excurfion on the 9th. Now to refume my 
hiftorical labors, and, I truft, with little interruption. The week has pafled pleaf- 
antly, amidft the rich fcenery of Lebanon, Stockbridge, and Lenox, which laft 
we have vifited, making the Springs our point ctappui. There are few enjoy- 
ments greater than that of wandering amidft beautiful landfcapes with dear 
friends of tafte and fympathies congenial to your own." 

From this time until the " Conqueft of Mexico " was 
finifhed he was very active and induftrious, fuffering hardly 
any interruption, and working with an intereft which was not 
lefs the refult of his devotion to his talk than of the nature of 
his fubjecl:. Sometimes he advanced very rapidly, or at the rate 
of more than nine printed pages a day ; almoft always doing 
more and enjoying it more when he was in the country than 
anywhere elfe. 

On the 2d of Auguft, 1 843, the whole of the work was com- 
pleted ; three years and about ten months from the time when 
he began the actual compofition, and above five years from the 
time when he began to inveftigate the fubjecl: loofely and lift- 
leffly. His labor in the laft months had been too fevere, and 
he felt it. But he felt his fuccefs too. " On the whole," he 
writes the day he finifhed it, " the laft two years have been the 
moft induftrious of my life, I think, — efpecially the laft 
year, — and, as I have won the capital, entitle me to three 
months of literary loafing." 4 

A few months earlier he had fold the right of publifhing 



4 The following are his own dates re- 
fpedting the compofition of the " Con- 
quell of Mexico." 

"May, 1838. — Began Scattered reading 
on the fubjecl:, doubtful if I get my docu- 
ments from Spain. Very liftlefs and far- 
niente-\ft\ for a year. Over-viiiting and 
not in fpirits. 

"April, 1839. — Began to read in ear- 
nefl, having received MSS. from Madrid. 

"061. 14, 1839. — Wrote fir ft page of 
Introduction at Pepperell. 

"March 1, 1841. — Finifhed Introduc- 
tion and Part I. of Appendix. 



"Auguft 2, 1843. — Finifhed the work. 
So the Introduction, about half a vol., oc- 
cupied about as long as the remaining 2J- 
vols. of dafhing narrative. 

"Auguft, 1 841 -Auguft, 1842. — Com- 
pofed 562 pages of print, text and notes of 
the narrative. 

"Auguft, 1 842 -Auguft, 1843. — Com- 
pofed 425 pp. print, text and notes ; revifed 
Ticknor's corrections and his wife's of all 
the work. Corrected, &c. proofs of nearly 
all the work. The laft Book required fe- 
vere reading of MSS." 



Illness of Mr, Prescott, Senior 



203 



" The Conqueft of Mexico " from ftereotype plates furnifhed Chap - xv - 
by himfelf to the Meffrs. Harper and Brothers of New York. 1843. 

JEt. 47. 
" They are to have five thoufand copies," he favs, " paving therefor feven 
thoufand five hundred dollars in cafh (deducting three months' intereft) at Contract for 
the date of publication. The right is limited to one year, during which they P ubllflll "g- 

may publifh as many more copies as thev pleafe on the fame terms 

I hope they may not be difappointed, for their fakes as well as mine. But this 
is a different contract from that which ufhered l Ferdinand and Ifabella ' into 
the world." 

His arrangements with his publishers made it neceffary for 
him to deliver them the ftereotype plates of the completed 
work by the 15th of October, and thus caufed a preffure upon 
him to which he refolved that he would never again expofe 
himfelf. But he needed not to feel anxious or hurried. His 
work was all Stereotyped on the 10th of September. 

He went immediately to Pepperell, that he might begin the 
pleafant "literary loafing" he had propofed as his reward. " I 
promife myfelf," he fays, " a merry autumn with lounging at Pe PP ereii. 
my eafe among friends and idle books ; a delicious contraft | 
after the hard fummer's work I have done." A part of this 
we fpent with him, and found it as gay as he had anticipated. 
But, as he approached its end, a fad difappointment awaited 
him. On the 28th of October, his father Suffered a flight Illn ^ of his 
(hock of paralyfis, and the next day he wrote to me as 
follows. 

Pe PP erell, Sunday evening. 

My dear George, 

I fuppofe you may haye heard through William of our affliction in the illnels 
of my father. As you may get incorrect imprefflons of his condition, I will 
briefly ftate it. 

His left cheek was (lightly, though very vifibly, affected by the paralyfis, — 
his articulation was fo confufed that he was fcarcely intelligible, — and his mind 
was fadly bewildered. He was attacked in this way yeiterday about half pad 
nine A. M. In a few hours his face was reftored to its ufual appearance. His 
articulation was gradually improved, and to-day is nearly perfect ; and his mind 
has much brightened, fo that you would not detect any failing unlefs your 
attention were called to it. I have no doubt the prefcnt attack will pais away 
in time without leaving permanent confequences. But for the future, I ihould 



204 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
Mr. 47. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Sympathy of fa- 
ther and fon. 



Reftoration in 
part of his fa- 
ther's health. 



Conqueft of 
Mexico " 
publifhed. 



His feelings on 
the publica- 
tion. 



tremble to lift the veil. There is an oppreflive gloom over the landfcape, fuch 
as it never wore to my eyes before. 
God blefs you and yours. 

Moft affectionately, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 
George Ticknor, Esq^ 

Later, he records his feelings in the fame tone. 

A cloud is thrown over our happy way of life by the illnefs of my dear 
father, who three days fince was attacked by a ftroke of paralyfis, which affected 
his fpeech materially, and for the firft time threw a darknefs over that fine 
intellect. The effects of the fhock have, thank Heaven, much paffed away ; 
and we may hope that it is not intended that fo much wifdom and goodnefs 
(hall be taken away from us yet. Still it has filled me with a fadnefs fuch as 
but one other event of my life ever caufed ; for he has been always a part of 
myfelf \ to whom I have confided every matter of any moment ; on whofe 
fuperior judgment I have relied in all affairs of the leaft confequence ; and on 
whofe breaft I have been fure to find ready fympathy in every joy and forrow. 
I have never read any book of merit without difcufiing it with him, and his 
noble example has been a light to my fteps in all the chances and perplexities 
of life. When that light is withdrawn, life will wear a new and a dark afpect 
to me. 



father's health was foon in a 
enioyed life much as he had 



As he fondly anticipated, his 
great meafure reftored, and he enjoyed lire mucn as 
done for fome years previous to this attack. Meantime the 
inevitable prefs went on, and the " Conqueft of Mexico " was 
publifhed on the 6th of December, 1843. 

" It is," he fays, " fix years next Chriftmas, fince ' Ferdinand and Ifabella ' 
made their bow to the public. This fecond apparition of mine is by no means 
fo ftirring to my feelings. I don't know but the critic's flings, if pretty well 
poifoned, may not raife a little irritation. But I am fure I am quite proof againft 
the anodyne of praife. Not that I expect much either. But criticifm has got 
to be an old ftory. It is impoffible for one who has done that fort of work him- 
felf to feel any refpect for it. How can a critic look his brother in the face 
without laughing ? As it is not in the power of the critics to write a poor 
author up into permanent eftimation, fo none but an author who has once been 
kindly received can write himfelf down. Yet I fhall be forry if the work does 
not receive the approbation of my friends here and abroad — and of the few "$ 

5 It feems fingular now that he fhould Above a year earlier, he recorded his 
have had any anxiety about the fuccefs of doubts : " The Ticknors, who have read 
the " Conqueft of Mexico." But he had. my manufcript relating to the Conqueft, 



20 



JEt. 



47 



Its great fuccefs. 



" Conquest of Mexico " in England. 

But there was no need of this mifgiving, or of any mif- Chap - xv 
giving whatever. The work was greeted from one end of the 1843. 
United States to the other with a chorus of applaufe, fuch as 
was never vouchfafed to any other, of equal gravity and im- 
portance, that had been printed or reprinted among us. With- 
in a month after it appeared, more than a hundred and thirty 
newspapers from different parts of the country had been fent 
to the author, all in one tone. Within the fame period, many 
of the bookfellers' fhops were exhaufted of their fupplies fev- 
eral times, fo as to be unable to meet the current demand. 
And finally, for a fortnight after the fourth thoufand was fold, 
the whole market of the country was left bare. The five 
thoufand copies, provided for by the contract, which he thought 
could hardly be fold within a year, difappeared, in fact, in about 
four months. The fale of the work was, therefore, as re- 
markable as the applaufe with which it had been received on 
its appearance. The author ceafed to be anxious, and the pub- 
lishers were jubilant. 6 

An Englifh edition was at the fame time publifhed by Mr. Engiifh edition. 
Bentley in London ; the copyright, after coniiderable negotia- 
tion, having been fold to him on the author's behalf by his 
kind and excellent friend, Colonel Afpinwall, for fix hundred 
and fifty pounds. A fecond edition was called for in the May 
following, and Baudry publifhed one at Paris in the original 
foon afterwards. It had at once a great run in England and 
on the Continent. 

Of courfe, the reviews of all kinds and fizes were prompt 
in their notices. At home the authors of fuch criticifms ran 
no rifk. They were to deal with a writer whofe character was 
fully fettled, in his own country at leaft. There was, there- 
fore, no difference of opinion among them, no qualification, 



allure me that the work will fucceed. 
Would they were my enemies that fay fo ! 
But they are friends to the backbone." 
He had the fame mifgivings, I know, until 
the work had been publifhed two or three 
weeks. 



6 This was the genuine fruit of a well- 
earned fame, as the earlier! fales in Boilon 
of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " were the 
honorable fruit of great focial and pcrfonal 
regard. See ante, pp. 106, 107. 



206 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
JEt. 47. 

American re- 
views. 



Englifh reviews, 



His thoughts 
about them 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



no referve; certainly none that I remember, and none of any 
moment. A beautiful article, written with great judgment and 
kindnefs, by Mr. George S. Hillard, appeared in the " North 
American Review" for January, 1844, and was followed by two 
of no lefs power and finifh in the "Chriftian Examiner" by Mr. 
George T. Curtis, and in the " Methodift Quarterly " by Mr. 
Jofeph G. Cogfwell. Thefe all came from the hands of perfonal 
friends. But friendfhip was not needed to help the fuccefs of 
a book which, while it was fettled on an affured foundation of 
facts carefully afcertained, yet read, in the narrative portions, 
like a romance, and was written in a ftyle often not lefs glow- 
ing than that of Scott, and fometimes reminding us of what is 
fineft in " Ivanhoe," or " The Talifman." 

The fame verdict, therefore, foon arrived from England, 
where the book was neceffarily judged without reference to its 
author. The articles in the " Athenaeum " were, I think, the 
earlieft ; one of no fmall ability, which appeared rather late, 
by Charles Philips, Efq., in the " Edinburgh," was, on the 
whole, the moft laudatory. But they were all in the fame 
fpirit. A long and elaborate criticifm, however, in the 
"Quarterly," written by the Rev. Mr. Milman, now (1862) 
the Dean of St. Paul's, was the moft carefully confidered and 
thorough of any. It gratified Mr. Prefcott very much by 
its ftrong, manly fenfe and graceful fcholarfhip, but ftill more 
by the eftimate which a perfon of fuch known elevation of 
character placed upon the moral tendencies of the whole work. 
It became at once the foundation of an acquaintance which 
ripened afterwards into a fincere perfonal friendfhip. 

But Mr. Prefcott did not fufter thefe things to have more 
than their due weight with him, or to occupy much of his 
time or thought. After giving a flight notice of them, he fays : 
" It is fomewhat enervating, and has rather an unwholefome 
effect, to podder long over thefe perfonalities. The beft courfe 
is action, — things, not felf, — at all events not felf-congratu- 
lation. So now I propofe to difmifs all further thoughts qf 
my literary fuccefs." 



Letter to Don Pascual de Gayangos. 



TO CHARLES LYELL, ESQ.? 

Nahant, July n, 1842. 

My dear Mr. Lyell, 
I understand from Mrs. Ticknor that you are to be in town this week, previous 
to failing. I truft we fhall have the pleafure of fhaking hands with you and 
Mrs. Lyell again before you fhake the duff of our republican foil off your feet. 
Perhaps your geological explorations may lead you among our cliffs again. If 
fo, will you and Mrs. L. oblige us by dining and making our houfe your head- 
quarters for the day ? I regret, my father and mother are abfent in the country 
this week. But I need not fay, that it will give my wife and myfelf fincere 
pleafure to fee you both, though we had rather it mould be in the way of " how 
d'ye do," than " good-by." Pray remember me moft kindly to Mrs. Lyell, 
and believe me 

Very faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 



Bofton, Jan. 30, 1843. 

My dear Friend, 

From yours of December 25th, I find you are ftill in London. I hope you 
received mine of November 14th, informing you of Mr. Tytler's kind offer to 
place his extracts from the State Paper Office at my difpofal, and that you alfo 
received my note of December iff. When you have examined the papers in 
Bruffels and Paris you will be able to form an eftimate of what the copying them 
will coft. I think that the firft twenty letters in Raumer's " Hiftory of the 
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries" fhow that there are very important mate- 
rials in the Bibliotheque Royale in Paris ; and I mould think it would be well 
to get copies of the very documents of which he gives fome flight abftracts. 
They feem, feveral of them, to relate to the private life of Philip and his family, 
and interefting details of the court in his reign, and the latter part of that of 
Charles the Fifth. 

The Venetian Rela%ioni are, I fuppofe, fome of them quite important, con- 
fidering the minutenefs with which the minifters of that republic entered into 
the affairs of the courts where they refided. Mr. Everett fpeaks of Manfard's 
account of these Relations as affording all the information one could defire 
to guide one. If Mr. E. is right, the Archives du Royaume, in the Hotel 



207 



7 This letter is inferted here, as the 
firft in a very interefting correfpondence, 
of which large portions will hereafter be 
given, and which was terminated only by 
Mr. Prefcott's death. Mr. Lyell — now 
Sir Charles Lyell — was in July, 1842, 



juft finifhing his firft vifit to the United 
States, of which he afterwards publilhed an 
account in 1845, — one of the moft acute 
and juft views of the character and condi- 
tion of the people of the United States 
that has ever been printed. 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 

JEt. 47. 



Mr. Tytler. 



Materials for a 
hiftory of 
Philip II. 



208 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
JEt. 47. 

Private letters 
and diaries 
wanted. 



Spanish tranfla- 
tion. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Veytia's Mexico. 



Soubife, mult alfo contain much of intereft relating to our fubjecT:. But to fay 
truth, valuable as are official documents, fuch as treaties, inftrudtions to 
minifters, &c, I fet ftill greater ftore by thofe letters, diaries, domeftic corre- 
fpondence, which lay open the characters and habits of the great actors in the 
drama. The others furnifh the cold outlines, but thefe give us the warm color- 
ing of hiftory, — all that gives it its charm and intereft. Such letters as Peter 
Martyr's, fuch notices as the Quincuagenas of Oviedo, and fuch goffiping 
chronicles as Bernal Diaz's, are worth an ocean of ftate papers for the hiftorian 
of life and manners, who would paint the civilization of a period. Do you not 
think fo ? 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, Jan. 30, 1843. 

You will alfo probably fee Senor Benavides, my tranflator. 8 I am 

greatly obliged by the account which you have given me of him and the other 
translators, who, I fuppofe, will now abandon the ground. You fay Senor B. 
will controvert fome of my opinions. So much the better, if he does it in 
a courteous fpirit, as I have no doubt he will ; for if he did not approve of the 
work on the whole, he would, I mould fuppofe, hardly take the trouble to tranf- 
late it. If he prefents views differing on fome points from mine, the reader will 
have more lights for getting at truth, which ought to be the end of hiftory. Very 
likely I have pleafed my imagination with a beau ideal; for you know I am born 
a republican, but not a fierce one, and in my own country, indeed, am ranked 
among what in England would correfpond with the confervatives. 

I hope his work will be got up in creditable ftyle, as regards typographical 
execution, as well as in more important matters. I fhould like to make a good 
impreffion on my adopted countrymen, and a good drefs would help that. From 
what you fay of Senor Benavides I augur favorably for the work. I hope he 
will fee the laft London edition, full of errors as it is in the Caftilian. You will 
be good enough to fend me fome copies when it is publifhed. 



FROM MR. GALLATIN. 

New York, June 22, 1843. 

Dear Sir, 
I feel much obliged to you for the copy of Veytia's " Hiftoria Antigua de 
Mexico," fent me by Mr. Catherwood. Unfortunately I have fo far forgotten 
Spanifh, as everything elfe which I learnt late in life, that to read it has become 
a labor; and Veytia is not very amufing or inviting. Still his work deferves 
attention. The authorities he quotes are precifely thofe of Clavigero, and the 

8 Of the " Ferdinand and Ifabella." 



Letter to Don Pasetial de Gayangos. 



two books were written independent of each other. I have only run through 
Veytia, and I intend (if I can) to read it more carefully. But the refult in my 
mind, fo far as I have compared, is that, beyond the one hundred years which 
preceded the Spanifh conqueft, the Mexican hiftory is but little better than 
tradition ; at leaft beyond the limits of the valley of Mexico. Our beft 
hiftorical authorities are, as it feems to me, thofe which the Spaniards found and 
faw on their arrival, and the ftill exifting monuments. But I mould not indulge 
in fuch crude conjectures, and wait with impatience for your work, the publi- 
cation of which pleafe to haften that I may have a chance to read it. Pleafe 
to accept the affurance of my high regard and diftinguifhed confideration, and 
to believe me, 

Dear Sir, 

Your obedient and faithful fervant, 

Albert Gallatin. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, Nov. 30, 1843. 

My dear Friend, 

I am glad to find by your letter of October 10, that you are fo comfortably 
eftablifhed in Madrid, and moft happy that you are placed in the Arabic chair 
for which you are fo well qualified. 9 It is much preferable to an African million 
on every account, and I hope, whatever party comes uppermoft in your land of 
trajlornos, you will not be difturbed in it. 10 I am not very much furprifed at the 
impediments you met with in the public libraries from their confufed ftate, and 
from the apathy of thofe who have the care of them. How can the regard for 
letters nourifh amidft fuch cruel civil difTenfions ? But meliora fperemus. In 
the mean time I do not doubt that your habitual perfeverance and the influence 
of your pofition will give you accefs to what is of moft importance. You fay 
nothing of the Efcorial, in fpeaking of the great collections. Is not that a 
repofitory of much valuable hiftoric matter ? And is it not in tolerable order ? 
I believe it ufed to be. 

It will be very hard if the Spaniards refufe me admittance into their archives, 
when I am turning my information, as far as in my power, to exhibit their 
national prowefs and achievements. I fee I am already criticifed by an Englifh 
periodical for vindicating in too unqualified a manner the deeds of the old Con- 
querors. If you were in England, I mould be fure of one champion, at leaft, to 
raife a voice in my favor ! But I hope it will not be needed. 

You are moft fortunate in having accefs to fuch private collections as thofe of 
Alva, Santa Cruz, Infantado, &c. The correfpondence of the admiral of the 
Armada, and that alio of Requefens, muft have intereft. It was the archives of 



9 In the Univerfity of Madrid. 
10 Don Pafcual had fome thought of go- 
ing, in an official capacity, to Tunis, &c, 
27 



fo as to collect Arabic manufcripts. In facl, 
he did go later ; but not at this time, and 
not, I think, burdened witli official cares. 



209 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
JEt. 47. 

The fafeft au- 
thorities. 



Materials for 
hiftory of 
Philip II. 



2IO 



Chap. XV. 

1843. 
JEt. 47. 



Superficial fchol- 
arfhip. 



"Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



William Mick ling Prescott. 



the Santa Cruz family of which Senor Navarrete fpoke as containing materials 
relating to Philip the Second. Pray thank that kind-hearted and venerable 
fcholar for his many courtefies to me. You will of courfe add to our collection 
whatever he and his brother Academicians publifh in reference to this reign. 



FROM MR. ROGERS. 

My dear Sir, 

At Paris, where I was idling away one of the autumn months, I received your 
welcome letter; and I need not fay with what pleafure I difcovered your volumes 
on my table when I returned to London. Let me congratulate you on an 
achievement at once fo bloodlefs and fo honorable to your country and yourfelf. 

" It feems to me," fays Mr. Hume to Mr. Gibbon, " that your countrymen, 
for almoft a whole generation, have given themfelves up to barbarous and abfurd 
faction, and have totally neglected all polite letters. I no longer expected any 
valuable production ever to come from them." 

May it not in fome meafure be faid even now of England and France, and 
I fear alfo of America, — the many who would except themfelves there being 
for the moft part a multitude of faft writers and fail readers, who defcend from 
one abyfs to another ? 

That you may long continue in health and ftrength, to fet a better example, is 
the ardent but difinterefted wifh of one who cannot live to avail himfelf of it. 

Sincerely yours, 

S. Rogers. 

London, Nov. 30, 1843. 



FROM MR. HALLAM. 

Wilton Crefcent, London, Dec. 29, 1843. 

My dear Sir, 

I received, not long after your letter reached my hands, a copy of your 
" Hiftory of the Conqueft of Mexico," which you had fo kindly led me to ex- 
pe£fc ; and mould have fooner acknowledged it, if my abfence from London foon 
afterwards had not retarded my perufal of it, and if I had not been forced to 
wait fome weeks for an opportunity of fending my anfwer through our friend 
Mr. Everett. 

I fincerely congratulate you on this fecond fuccefs in our hiftoric field. If the 
fubjedt. is not, to us at leaft of the Old World, quite equal in intereft to the " Hif- 
tory of Ferdinand and Ifabella," you have perhaps been able to throw ftill more 
freih light on the great events which you relate, from fources hardly acceilible, 
and at leaft very little familiar to us. It has left Robertfon's narrative, the 
only popular hiftory we had, very far behind. But I confefs that the hiftory 



Letter from Mr. Everett 



21 I 



1844. 
JEt. 47. 

Stephens on 
Central 
America. 



Style of Mr. 
Prefcott. 



of your hero has attracted me lefs than thofe chapters relating to Mexican An- Chap. XV. 
tiquities, which at once excite our aftonifhment and curiofity. Mr. Stephens's 
work had already turned our minds to fpeculate on the remarkable phenomenon 
of a civilized nation decaying without, as far as we can judge, any fubjugation, 
(or, of one by a more barbarous people, this, though not unprecedented, is ftill 
remarkable,) and without leaving any record of its exiftence. Some fa&s, if 
fuch they are, mentioned by you, are rather ftartling, efpecially thofe of religious 
analogy to Jewifh and Chriftian doctrines ; but they do not all feem to reft on 
certain evidence. If true, we muft perhaps explain them by help of the Norwe- 
gian fettlement. 

Your ftyle appears to me almoft perfect, and better, I think, than in your 
former hiftory. You are wholly free from what we call Americanifms. Some- 
times I mould think a phrafe too colloquial, efpecially in the notes. 

I beg you to give my beft regards to Mr. and Mrs. Ticknor, when you next 
fee them, and I remain, my dear fir, 

Very faithfully yours, 

Henry Hallam. 



FROM MR. EVERETT. 



London, Jan. 2, 1844. 

My dear Sir, 

We have been reading the " Conqueft of Mexico " about our firefide, 

and finifh the fecond volume this evening. I enjoy it more than its predeceflor. 
The intereft is of a more epic kind ; and reading it aloud is more favorable to 
attention and effe£t. I think its fuccefs complete. I hear different opinions as 
to its merit compared with "Ferdinand and Ifabella." Old Mr. Thomas Gren- 
ville (the fon of George, of Stamp A£t. fame, and the collector, I think, of the 
beft private library of its fize I know) gives the preference to " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella." Mr. Hallam inclines, I think, to prefer " The Conqueft." He faid 
he thought the ftyle was rather eafier in the latter ; but Mr. Grenville made 
precifely the fame criticifm as to " Ferdinand and Ifabella," which he told me 
he thought the ableft modern hiftory in the Englifh language. This extraor- 
dinary and venerable perfon was eighty-eight years old on the 31ft of December. 
On that day he walked from his houfe near Hyde Park Corner to Stafford Houie, 
and called on me on his way home ; not feeming more fatigued than I mould 
have been with the fame circuit. I once afked him if he recollected his uncle, 
Lord Chatham, and he anfwered that he recollected playing ninepins with him at 
the age of fourteen. 

I enclofe you a letter from Mr. Hallam. The article on your book in the 
" Quarterly," as I learn from Dr. Holland, was written by Mr. Milman. Mr. 
Grenville {poke with great feverity of the article on " Ferdinand and Ifabella" 
which appeared in the fame journal. 



Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



Mr. Thomas 
Grenville. 



212 



Chap. XV. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 

Succefs of the 
" Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



Important opin- 
ions concern- 
ing it. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



MEMORANDA. 

January 7, 1844. — The firft entry in the New Year. It begins aufpicioufly 
for this fecond child of my brain, as 1838 did for its elder brother. More than 
a hundred and thirty papers from different parts of the country, 11 and a large 
number of kind notes from friends, atteft the rapid circulation of the work, and 
the very favorable regard it receives from the public. The principal bookftores 
here have been exhaufted of their copies two or three times, though there has 
always been a fupplv at the inferior depots. The Harpers have not been able to 
fend the books nearly as fa ft as ordered. I fuppofe the delay is explained by the 
time occupied in binding them. 

From the prevalent (with fcarcely an exception) tone of criticifm, I think 
three things may be eftablifhed in regard to this Hiftory, of which I had previ- 
oufly great doubts. I. The Introduction and chapter in Appendix I. are well 
regarded by the public, and I did not fpend my time injudiciouny on them. 
2. The laft book, on the biography of Cortes, is confidered a neceflary and in- 
terefting appendage. 3. The ftyle of the whole work is confidered richer, freer, 
more animated and graceful than that of " Ferdinand and Ifabella." This laft 
is a very important facl:, for I wrote with much lefs faftidioufnefs and elaboration. 
Yet I rarely wrote without revolving the chapter many times in my mind before 
writing. But I did not podder over particular phrafes. 

Had I accepted half of my good friend Folfom's criticifms, what 

would have become of the ftyle ? Yet they had and will always have their 
value for accurate analyfis of language and thought, and for accuracy of general 
fa£ts. My Poftfcripts, written with leaft labor, have been much commended as 
to ftyle. 



FROM LORD MORPETH. 



Jan. 23, 1844. 



Caftle Howard, 

My dear Prescott, 
You will have thought me over-long in anfwering your moft gracious and 
precious gift of your " Mexico," but I fent you a meflage that you were not to 
have a word from me about it till I had quite finifhed it, and, as I read it out 
loud to my mother and fifter, this has not taken place fo foon as you might have 
expected. And now my poor verdict will come after you are faturated with the 
public applaufe, and will care mighty little for individual fuffrage. Still I will 
hope that, however carelefs you may be of the approbation, you will not be wholly 
indifferent to the pleafure with which our occupation has been attended. Noth- 
ing could be more fatisfa&ory than to roll along through your eafy, animated, 
and pictured periods, and your candid and difcriminating, but unaiTuming, dif- 

11 Thefe were fent to him in a flood, chiefly by mail and by his publifhers. 



Letter to Rev. Mr. Milman. 



quifitions, and to have my own intereft and approval fTiared by thofe to whom 
I read; and then further to find the wide circle without corroborate. our verdi&, 

" And nations hail thee with a love like mine." 

We are getting through the mildeft winter almoft ever remembered. Before 
you receive this, I probably fhall be a member of the Houfe of Commons, a re- 
entry upon public turmoil of which I do not at all relifh the profpecl:. Are you 
beginning Pizarro ? How you muft have pleafed Rogers by your mention of 
him. Pray give my kindeft regards to your family. 

Believe me, ever affectionately yours, 

Morpeth. 



TO THE REV. H. H. MILMAN. 



Bofton, Jan. 30, 1844. 

My dear Sir, 

If you will allow one to addrefs you fo familiarly who has not the honor to be 
perfonally known to you ; and yet the frequency with which I have heard your 
name mentioned by fome of our common friends, and my long familiarity with 
your writings, make me feel as if you were not a ftranger to me. I have learnt 
from my friend Mr. Everett that you are the author of a paper in the laft Lon- 
don " Quarterly " on the "Conqueft of Mexico." It is unneceflary to fay with 
what fatisfa£tion I have read your elegant and encomiaftic criticifm, written 
throughout in that courteous and gentlemanlike tone, particularly grateful as 
coming from a Tranfatlantic critic, who has no national partialities to warp his 
judgment. Speaking the fame language, nourifhed by the fame literature, and 
with the fame blood in our veins, I affure you the American fcholar, next to his 
own country, looks for fympathy and countenance to his fatherland more than 
to any other country in the world. And when he receives the expreflion of it 
from thofe whom he has been accuftomed to reverence, he has obtained one of 
his higheft rewards. 

May I afk you to remember me kindly to Mr. and Mrs. Lyell and to Mr. 
Hallam, and believe me, my dear fir, 
With great refpecl:, 

Your obliged and obedient fervant, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



213 



Chap. XV. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 



.eview of the 
" Conqueft of" 
Mexico-" 



214 



Chap. XV. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 



Standard of hif- 
toric judg- 
ment. 



Bernal Diaz. 



William Hickliitg Prescott. 



TO JOHN C. HAMILTON, ESQ., NEW YORK. 



Bofton, Feb. 10, 1844. 



My dear Mr. Hamilton, 



I have read the notice of my work in the laft " Democratic Review," and as 
you interefted yourfelf to get it written, you may perhaps be pleafed to know my 
opinion about it. I like it very much. It is written throughout in a very cour- 
teous and gentlemanlike fpirit. As far as I am perfonally concerned, I mould be 
very unreafonable were I not gratified by the liberal commendation of my literary 
labors. 

The great queftion of the proper ftandard of hiftoric judgment is one in which 
of courfe I muft be at iffue with the writer, — or rather one in which he choofes 
to be at iffue with me. In managing the argument, he (hows much acutenefs 
and plaufibility. Yet if we accept his views of it, fome of the faireft names in 
the dark period of the Middle Ages, and of antiquity, will wear a very ugly 
afpect. The immorality of the act and of the actor feem to me two very differ- 
ent things ; and while we judge the one by the immutable principles of right and 
wrong, we muft try the other by the fluctuating ftandard of the age. The real 
queftion is, whether a man was fincere, and acted according to the lights of his 
age. We cannot fairly demand of a man to be in advance of his generation, and 
where a generation goes wrong, we may be fure that it is an error of the head, 
not of the heart. For a whole community, including its beft and wifeft, will not 
deliberately fanction the habitual perpetration of crime. This would be an 
anomaly in the hiftory of man. The article in the laft London " Quarterly," 
from the pen of Milman, a clergyman of the Church of England, you know, ex- 
preffly approves of my moral eftimate of Cortes. This is from a great organ of 
Orthodoxy. One might think the "Democratic" and the "Quarterly" had 
changed fides. Rather funny, rC eft ce pas ? 

As to the queftion of fact, — what Cortes did, or did not do, — the " Re- 
viewer " has leaned exclufively on one authority, that of the chronicler Diaz, 
an honeft man, but pailionate, credulous, querulous, and writing the reminif- 
cences of fifty years back. Truth cannot be drawn from one fource, but from 
complicated and often contradictory fources. 

I think you will hardly agree that the Conqueror deferved cenfure for not 
throwing off his allegiance to the Emperor, and fetting up for himfelf. However 
little we can comprehend the full feeling of loyalty, I think we can underftand 
the bafenefs of treafon. But I will not trouble you with an argument on this 
topic. I muft fay, however, that I refpect the " Democratic," and am fure the 
" North American " contains few articles written with more ability than this, 
much as I differ from fome of the pofitions taken in it. 

I have run, I find, into an unconfcionable length of line, which I hope you 
will excufe. Pray remember me kindly to your wife and daughter, and believe me, 

Very fincerely, your friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Letters from Mr. Tytler and Rev. Mr. Milman. 

FROM PATRICK FRASER TYTLER, ESQ. 

34 Devonfhire Place, April, 1844. 

My dear Sir, 

Your precious prefent of the " Hiftory of Mexico," and the kind letter which 
accompanied it, found me entangled with my ninth and laft volume of the 
" Hiftory of Scotland," and the winding up my imperfect labors. This muft be 
my apology for a delay which has weighed heavily on my confcience, but I could 
not bear the idea of dipping into, or giving a hafty perufal to anything proceeding 
from your pen, and Cortes was deferred till Elizabeth and King Jamie were at 
reft. And now, my dear fir, let me thank you moft fincerely for the delight and 
the inftrucl:ion which I have received. " Ferdinand and Ifabella " had prepared 
me to expe£f. much ; but in the tc Conqueft of Mexico " you have outftript 
yourfelf, and produced a work which can inftrucl: the wifeft, and charm and in- 
tereft the youngeft reader ; which combines a pathetic and ftirring narrative with 
fome of the graveft leflbns that can be derived from hiftory. How you fhould 
have achieved fuch a work, under the continued privation to which you allude fo 
fimply and beautifully in your Preface, is to me, I own, little lefs than miracu- 
lous ; for, compofed under every advantage of individual confultation and refearch, 
" Mexico " would be a noble monument of labor and genius. Long, very long 
may you live to conquer fuch difficulties as would overwhelm any inferior mind. 

Believe me, my dear Mr. Prefcott, with fincere regard and refpecl:, moft truly 
yours, 

Patrick Fraser Tytler. 

P. S. I have fent along with this the ninth and laft volume of my " Hiftory 
of Scotland," with fome manufcripts, letters, and extracts, relating to the times of 
Philip and Mary, which I copied from the originals in the State Paper Office. 
Thefe are entirely at your fervice, if they can be of the leaft affiftance in the 
refearches into this period which I underftood you at one time contemplated. 



FROM THE REV. H. H. MILMAN. 

Cloifters, Weftminfter Abbey, April 12, 1844. 

My dear Sir, 
I reproach myfelf for having delayed fo long to acknowledge the note in which 
you expreffed your gratification at the notice of your Mexican work in the 
u Quarterly Review." I allure you that nothing could give me greater pleafure 
than finding an opportunity of thus publicly, though anonymoufly, declaring my 
high opinion of your writings. Our many common friends have taught me to 
feel as much refpecl: for your private character as your writings have commanded 
as an author. I was much amufed, after I had commenced the article, with 
receiving a letter from our friend Lord Morpeth, exprefting an anxious hope that 
juftice would be done to the work in the " Quarterly Review." Without be- 
traying my fecret, I was able to fet his mind at reft. 



21 



Chap. XV. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 



' Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



Difficulty from 
imperfecl 
fight. 



Quarterly Re- 
view. 1 ' 



2l6 



Chap. XV. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 

Invitation to 
England. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Can we not perfuade you to extend your perfonal acquaintance with our men 
of letters, and others whofe fociety you would appreciate, by a vifit to England ? 
Perhaps you might not find much to affift you in your refearches (if report fpeaks 
true, that you are engaged on the Conquer! of Peru), which you cannot command 
in America, yet even in that refpecl: our libraries might be of fervice. But of 
this I am fure, that no one would be received with greater cordiality or more uni- 
verfal efteem. 

If this be impoflible or impracticable, allow me to affure you that I fhall be 
delighted if this opening of our correfpondence mould lead to further acquaintance, 
even by letter. I fhall always feel the greater! interefl: in the labors of one who 
does fo much honor to our common literature. In letters we muft be brethren, 
and God grant that we may be in political, relations, and in reciprocal feelings of 
refpecl: and regard. 

Believe me, my dear fir, ever faithfully yours, 

H. H. Mixman. 








CHAPTER XVI. 

i8 44 . 

Mr. Prefcotfs Style. — Determines to have one of his own. — How he ob- 
tained it. — Difcuffions in Reviews about it. • — Mr. Ford. — Writes 
more and more freely. — Naturalnefs. — His Style made attractive by 
Caufes connected with his Infirmity of Sight. — Its final Char abler. 

tXQ'T has, I believe, been generally thought that Mr. 
v Prefcott's ftyle reached its happieft development 
in his " Conqueft of Mexico/' No doubt, a more 
jS exact finifh prevails in many parts of the " Ferdi- 
m nand and Ifabella," and a high authority has faid 
W& that there are portions of " Philip the Second " 
written with a vigor as great as its author has anywhere fhown. 1 
But the frefhnefs and freedom of his defcriptions in the "Mex- 
ico," efpecially the defcriptions of fcenery, battles, and marches, 

1 Letter from Dean Milman. 




217 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEr. 48. 

Stylf of writing 



; 



2l8 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Early ftudies foi 
ftyle. 



/" 



His ftyle not an 
imitated one. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



are, I think, not found to the fame degree in either of his 
other hiftories, and have rendered the ftyle of that work An- 
gularly attractive. Certainly, it is a ftyle well fitted to its 
romantic fubjecl, although it may be one which it would have 
been adventurous or unwife to apply, in the fame degree, to 
fubjects from their nature more grave and philofophical. 

But whatever Mr. Prefcott's ftyle may at any period have 
been, or in whichever of his w^orks its development may have 
been moft fuccefsful, it was unquestionably the refult of much 
consideration and labor, and of very peculiar modes of com- 
position. With what felf-diftruft he went back, when he was 
already above twenty-five years old, and toiled through Mur- 
ray's Englifh Grammar, and Blair's Rhetoric, as if he were a 
fchoolboy, and how he followed up thefe humble ftudies with 
a regular investigation of what was characteristic in all the 
great English profe-writers, from Roger Afcham down to our 
own times, we have already feen. It was a deep and folid 
foundation, laid with a diftind: purpofe, that cannot be mif- 
taken, and one which, in years fubfequent, well repaid the 
weary hours it coft him. I remember how confcientious and 
difagreeable thele labors were, for he fometimes grew impatient 
and complained of them. But he perfevered, as he always did 
in what he deliberately undertook. 

He determined, however, at the fame time, that, whatever 
his ftyle might be, it Should be his own. 

"Every one," he faid at the outfet of his feverer ftudies, "pours out his 
thoughts beft in a ftyle fuited to his own peculiar habits of thinking. 

" The beft method for a man of fenfe to purfue is to examine his own com- 
pofition, after a fufficiently long period fhall have elapfed for him to have for- 
gotten it. He will then be in a fituation to pronounce upon his own works as 
upon another's. 2 He may confult one or two good friends in private. Their 
opinions will be valuable, inasmuch as they will in all probability be moreN 
honeft and fincere than a printed criticifm, and, moreover, they will not exert 
the fame depremng influence on the fpirits that a reverence for public criticifm 

2 "In order to correct my own hiftory "Ferdinand and Ifabella," "I mull never 
advantageoufly," he faid, nine years later, revife what I have written until after an 
when he was juft beginning to write his interval of as many years as poffible." 



Style. 



219 



Always confults 
friends. 



is apt to beget. I am inclined to believe that it would be for a man's intereft Chap. XVI. 
as an author never to confult a printed criticifm on his own publications. "3 q 

JEt. 48. 

Thefe were wife and wary conclulions to have been reached 
fo early in his literary life, and they were fubftantially adhered 
[ to through the whole of it. He did not, however, refrain from 
reading the criticifms that appeared on his larger works, be- 
caufe they were unfavorable. None, it is true, were really 
fuch. But whether he read them or not, he judged and cor- 
rected whatever he wrote with the affiftance of at leaft one 
friend, exactly in the way he has here indicated ; maintaining, 
however, at all times, an entire independence of opinion as to 
his own ftyle. 

Imitation he heartily dreaded. Five years before he began 
his "Ferdinand and Ifabella," he faid : "Model myfelf upon no 
manner. A good imitation is difgufting, — what muft a bad 
one be ? " " Rely on myfelf for criticifm of my own com- 
pofitions." " Neither confult nor imitate any model for ftyle, 
but follow my own natural current of expreffion." 

This fort of independence, however, made him only more 
rigorous with himfelf. When he had been four months em- 
ployed on his " Ferdinand and Ifabella," he made this memo- 
randum : — 

Two or three faults of ftyle occur to me in looking over fome former com- 
pofitions.4 Too many adjeclives; too many couplets of fubftantives, as well as 
adjectives, and perhaps of verbs ; too fet ; fentences too much in the fame 
mould ; too formal periphrafis inftead of familiar ; fentences balanced by ands, 
buts, and femicolons ; too many precife, emphatic pronouns, as thefe y thojc, 
which, &c, inftead of the particles the, a, &c. 

He even went into an elaborate inquiry as to the punc- M "UJJk! 
tuation he mould adopt, and as to the proper ufe oi capital 



* I think the tone of thefc remarks 
about " printed criticifms " is owing to 
certain notices of the " Club-Room " that 
appeared about that time, and which I 
know fomewhat annoyed him. He would 
hardly have made them later, when he 



wrote an article on Sir Walter Scott, where 
he fpeaks very flighting!}- of reviewers and 
their criticifms. 

4 Probablv articles in the " Club-Room" 

and the " North American Re\i 



220 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Not to be too 
elaborate. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



initials, recording the whole with care for his own govern- 
ment. But, after all his pains, he failed for a long time to 
fatisfy himfelf. Every word he wrote of the early chapters of 
the " Ferdinand and Ifabella " was rewritten, when he came to 
prepare that work for the prefs. So was the beginning of the 
" Mexico," and I think alfo that of the " Peru." One reafon 
of this, efpecially in the firft inftance, was, that he thought he 
had been too elaborate. He early faid, "On the whole, I think, 
with lefs faftidioufnefs I mould write better." And, long be- 
fore he publifhed his "Ferdinand and Ifabella," he deliberately 
recorded : — 

With regard to the ftyle of this work I will only remark that moft of the 
defects, fuch as they are, may be comprehended in the words trop folgne. At 
leaft, they may be traced to this fource. The only rule is, to write with freedom 
and nature, even with homelinefs of expreffion occasionally, and with alternation 
of long and iriort fentences; for fuch variety is effential to harmony. But, after 
all, it is not the conftrucliion of the fentence, but the tone of the coloring, which 
produces the effecl:. If the fentiment is warm, lively, forcible, the reader will 
be carried along without much heed to the arrangement of the periods, which 
differs exceedingly in different ftandard writers. Put life into the narrative, if 
you would have it take. Elaborate and artificial faftidioufnefs in the form of 
expreffion is highly detrimental to this. A book may be made up of perfect fen- 
tences and yet the general impreffion be very imperfect. In fine, be engrofled 
with the thought, and not with the fafhion of expreffing it. 

As he advanced with his work, he grew lefs ana lefs anxious 
for anything like a formal exactnefs in his ftyle, or rather, per- 
haps I mould fay, he became more and more perfuaded of the 
importance of freedom. 

" I am now convinced from experience," he fays, after four years' trial, 
" that faftidious care and precifion as to ftyle, when compofing, are fatal to 
excellence as well as to rapidity of writing, excluding many not merely 
legitimate expreffions, but pofitive graces and beauties of language, as well 
as nature and eafe." 

No doubt he profited all his life by the pains he early took 
with his ftyle, and certainly he never regretted it, minute and 
troublefome as it had been. Nor did he ever ceafe to fcrutinize 



Style, 



221 



i8 44 . 

JEt. 48. 

Boldnefs and 
eaie in writ- 
ing. 



Mr. Ford on Mr 
Preicott's 
ftyle. 



with patience what he had freely compofed, and to correct it, Chap - XVI. 
even in the proof-fheets, with feverity. But undoubtedly, too, 
his firft draft in his nomograph was made every year with in- 
creafing boldnefs and eafe. In this refpedt he was like a perfon 
who in his childhood has been trained to good manners, and 
in his riper years proves the gentlenefs of his breeding without 
remembering or in any way mowing the rules by which he 
had been drilled to it. 

But at laft the day of reckoning came. " The Hiftory of 
Ferdinand and Ifabella," on which he had labored lb long and 
{o confcientioufly, was published, and all the Reviews, or almoft 
all of them, made a point of difcuiling its ftyle. None com- 
plained, except the "London Quarterly," in which a fomewhat 
darning, but on the whole brilliant and favorable article ap- 
peared, written by Mr. Richard Ford, the diftinguimed Spanifh 
fcholar, with whom afterwards Mr. Prefcott became perfonally 
acquainted, and enjoyed a pleafant correfpondence. This article 
Mr. Prefcott read carefully more than once. It fomewhat dif- 
turbed his equanimity, and led him to an examination of his 
ftyle as compared with that of Englifh writers whole purity 
and excellence are acknowledged. He gave feveral days to the 
talk, the unpleafantnefs of which did not prevent him from 
making it thorough, and then he recorded his deliberate and 
Angularly candid opinion as follows : — 

The only ftrictures [in this article] which weigh a feather with me are thofe 
on my ftyle, in forming which I have taken much pains, and of the fucceis 
of which I am not the beft judge. This I mav fay, however, that of the 
numerous notices of the work, both in this country and in Europe, while almoft 
all have commended more or lefs — and fome exceiHvelv — the diction, none, 
that I am aware, have cenfured it. Many of thefe critics are fcholars, entirely 
competent to form a judgment on its merits ; more fo, to judge from their own 
ftyles, than the critic in queftion. I have received and feen many letters horn 
fimilar fources to the fame effecl:. Indeed, the work could not have obtained its 
rapid and wide popularity, had the execution been bad in this all-important 
refpecl:. 

I fay not this to lay a flattering unction to my foul, but to put myfelf on mv 
guard againft rafhly attempting a change in a very important matter on infuffi- 
cient grounds, and thus, perhaps, rifking for the future one of the molt eflential 



222 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Mr. Prefcott ex- 
amines Mr. 
Ford's review. 



Simplicity in 
words. 



Style of notes. 



Not to be anx- 
ious about his 
ftyle. 



Remarks on 
ftyle. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



elements of pan: fuccefs. Neverthelefs, I have devoted feveral days to a careful 
fcrutiny of my defects, and to a comparifon of my ftyle with that of ftandard 
Englifh writers of the prefent time. 

Mafter Ford complains of my text as being too formal, and my notes as hav- 
ing too much levity. This mows fome verfatility in me, at all events. As 
regards the former, it feems to me, the firft and fometimes the fecond volume 
affords examples of the ufe of words not fo fimple as might be ; not objection- 
able in themfelves, but unlefs fomething is gained in the way of ftrength or of 
coloring it is beft to ufe the moft fimple, unnoticeable words to exprefs ordinary 
things; ex. gr. " to fend " is better than "to tranfmit " ; "crown defcended" bet- 



ter than " devolved " ; " guns 
"call," than "to nominate"; 



fired" than "guns difcharged"; "to name,' 
to read" than " perufe " ; "the term. 



or 
or 



"name," than "appellation," and fo forth. It is better alfo not to encumber 
the fentence with long, lumbering nouns; as, "the relinquifhment of," inftead 
of " relinquifhing "; "the embellifhment and fortification of," inftead of " em- 
bellifhing and fortifying "; and fo forth. I can difcern no other warrant for 
Mafter Ford's criticifm than the occafional ufe of thefe and fimilar words 
on fuch commonplace matters as would make the fimpler forms of expreffion 
preferable. In my third volume, I do not find the language open to much cenfure. 

As to the notes, it is doubtlefs bad tafte to fhock the current of feeling, where 
there is much folemnity or pathos in the text, by unfeafonable jefts. But I do 
not find fuch in fuch places. In regard to them I do not find anything to alter 
in any particular in future. 

My conclufion from the whole is, — after a very honeft and careful exami- 
nation of the matter, — that the reader may take my ftyle for better or worfe as 
it now is formed, and that it is not worth while for me to attempt any alteration 
in it until I meet a fafer critic to point out its defects than Mafter Ford. 

One more conclufion is, that I will not hereafter vex myfelf with anxious 
thoughts about my ftyle when compofing. It is formed. And if there be any 
ground for the imputation that it is too formal, it will only be made worfe in 
this refpecl: by extra-folicitude. It is not the defe£t to which I am predifpofed. 
The beft fecurity againft it is to write with lefs elaboration ; a pleafant recipe, 
which conforms to my previous views. This determination will fave me trouble 
and time. Hereafter what I print fhall undergo no ordeal for the ftyle's fake, 
except only the grammar, and that I may fafely truft to my Harvard Aldus. 5 

To the latter part of this decifion he did not adhere. He 
afked counfel to the end of life about his works before they 
were printed, and corrected them with no lefs care than he had 
done earlier. But he never interfered with the general char- 
acteristics of his ftyle, nor permitted any friend or critic to do it. 

" A man's ftyle," he faid, as a final fettlement of his opinion on the whole 

5 Mr. Folfom. 



Style, 



matter, — "a man's ftyle, to be worth anything, mould be the natural expreffion 
of his mental character, and where it is not, the ftyle is either painfully affected, 
or it falls into that conventional tone which, like a domino at a mafquerade, or 
the tone of good-breeding in fociety, may be affumed by anybody that takes 
pains to acquire it \ fitting one perfon as well as another, and belonging to any- 
body, — nobody. The belt confequence of fuch a ftyle is, that it offends no 
one. It delights no one, for it is commonplace. It is true that genius will 
fhow itfelf under this coating, as an original will peep out under a domino. But 
this is not the beft drefs for it. The beft, undoubtedly, for every writer, is the 
form of expreffion beft fuited to his peculiar turn of thinking, even at fome 
hazard of violating the conventional tone of the moft chafte and careful writers. 
It is this alone which can give full force to his thoughts. Franklin's ftyle 
would have borne more ornament, — Wafhington Irving could have done with 
lefs, — Johnfon and Gibbon might have had much lefs formality, and Hume and 
Goldfmith have occafionally pointed their fentences with more effecl:. But, if 
they had abandoned the natural fuggeftions of their genius, and aimed at the 
contrary, would they not in mending a hole, as Scott fays, have very likely 
made two ? 

There are certain faults which no writer muft commit : falfe metaphors ; 
folecifms of grammar ; unmeaning and tautological expreffions ; for thefe contra- 
vene the fundamental laws of all writing, the object of which muft be to exprefs 
one's ideas clearly and correctly. But, within thefe limits, the wideft latitude 
fhould be allowed to tafte and to the power of unfolding the thoughts of 
the writer in all their vividnefs and originality. Originality — the originality 
of nature — compenfates for a thoufand minor blemifhes. 

Of one thing a writer may be fure, if he adopt a manner foreign to his mind 
he will never pleafe. Johnfon fays, ' Whoever would write in a good ftyle, &c, 
&c, muft devote his days and nights to the ftudy of Addifon.' 6 Had he done 
fo, or had Addifon formed his ftyle on Johnfon's, what a ridiculous figure each 
would have cut ! One man's ftyle will no more fit another, than one man's 
coat, or hat, or fhoes will fit another. They will be fure to be too big, or too 
fmall, or too fomething, that will make the wearer of them ill at eafe, and prob- 
ably ridiculous. 

It is very eafy for a cool, cauftic critic, like Brougham, to take to pieces the 
fine gofTamer of Dr. Channing's ftyle, 7 which has charmed thoufands of readers 
in this country and in Europe, and the Doctor would be a fool to give up his 

and was, no doubt, intended, by its pofi- 
tion, for a fort of epigrammatic effect. 

7 This refers to a fomewhal bitter re- 
view of Dr. Channing, in the " Edinburgh " 
for October, 1829, by Lord Brougham, — 
a man who could no more comprehend 
Dr. Channing, as an eminent perfon who 
knew him well once laid, than Dickens 
could comprehend Laplace. 



223 

Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Style of Frank- 
lin, Irving, 
&c. 



Faults of ftvle. 



Style Ihould be- 
long to the 
author. 



Style of Brough- 
am and Chan* 
ning. 



6 Johnfon is a little more cautious in 
his phrafeology, but the fubftance of his 
meaning, fo far as it was needed for the 
purpofe in hand, is given in the text with 
fufBcient precifion. His exac"l words are : 
" Whoever wifhes to attain an Englifh 
ftyle, familiar, but not coarfe y and elegant, 
but not oftentatious, muft give his days and 
his nights to the volumes of Addifon." 
It is the laft fentence in Addifon's Life, 



224 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Varieties of good 
ftyle. 



Succefsful writ- 
ers not to 
tamper with 
their ftyle. 



Excellence of 
his remarks. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



glorious mystifications — if they are fuch — for the homefpun, matter-of-facl: 
materials out of which a plainer and lefs imaginative mind would make its tiflue. 
It would be impoflible for Brougham — in his way of writing tolerably fet and 
fometimes pedantic, with an occafional air of familiarity that matches the reft of 
the fentences badly enough — to afcend into the regions of the true fublime, as 
Dr. Channing does, or to call up fuch a ftrong fenfe of the beautiful. It may be 
the beft ftyle for criticifm, however, — the beft for the practical, ordinary ufes of 
life. But I fhould not advife the Doctor to take it up, and ftill lefs the Ex- 
Chancellor to venture into the Doctor's balloon, or — as his admirers might 
think — his chariot of fire. 

How many varieties of beauty and excellence there are in this world ! As 
many in the mental as the material creation, and it is a pedantic fpirit which, 
under the defpotic name of tafte, would reduce them all to one dull uniform 
level. A writer who has fucceeded in gaining the public favor fhould be cautious 
how he makes any innovation in his habitual ftyle. The form of expreflion is 
fo nicely afTociated with the idea exprefTed, that it is impoflible to fay how much 
of his fuccefs is owing to the one or the other. It is very certain, however, that 
no work in any of the departments of the belles-lettres can difpenfe with excel- 
lence of ftyle of fome kind or other. If this be wanting, a work, however found 
or original in the conception, can hardly be popular, for it cannot give pleafure 
or create intereft, — things efTential in every kind of compofition which has 
not fcience exclufwely for its end. 

Let the writer, therefore, who has once fucceeded in gaining the public fuf- 
frages, — the fuffrages of the higher public, the well-educated, — let him be- 
ware how he tampers with the ftyle in which he has before approached them. 
Let him be ftill more flow to do this in obedience to the fuggeftions of a few ; 
for ftyle is the very thing which, all-important as it is, every well-educated man 
is competent to judge of. In facl:, he had better not make any ferious innovation 
in it, unlefs, like Sharon Turner or Jeremy Bentham, it is the object of fuch 
univerfal cenfure as fhows he has fucceeded in fpite of it, and not in con- 
fequence of it. Innovation is not reform in writing any more than in politics. 
The beft rule is to difpenfe with all rules except thofe of grammar, and to com- 
mit the natural bent of one's genius." 

Saving the laft fweeping fentence, — which I fufpect was 
prompted by the half-play upon the word " rules," and to 
whofe doctrine the author of the " Conqueft of Mexico " and 
of " Philip the Second " by no means conformed in his own 
practice, — I do not know where, within the fame compafs, 
{o much good fenfe on the fubject of ftyle is uttered with fo 
much fpirit and point. 

But, whatever we may think of the opinions contained in 
thefe ftriking extracts, one fact is plain from them ; I mean 









Style. 



225 



Ci 



XVI. 



1844. 

JEt. 48. 



that, while their author was willing and even glad to profit 
by Mr. Ford's criticiims in the "Quarterly Review," he was 
thoroughly independent in the ufe he made of them, and 
thoroughly determined that, at all hazards, his ftyle mould be 
his own, and mould not be materially modified by anybody's 
unfavorable opinion of it, unlefs he were fatisfied the opinion 
was juft. In this he was right. The fuccefs of the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella " had no doubt given him increafed confidence in 
his manner of writing, and the habit of compofing entirely in 
his memory had given him both greater freedom and greater 
facility. 8 But, even before this, his ftyle had become fubftan- 
tially what it always was after he was tolerably advanced in 
the " Ferdinand and Ifabella." It had, in fact, from its firft 
proper formation, been fettled on foundations too deep to be 
fhaken. 

Inftead, therefore, of writing more anxioufly, in confequence 
of Mr. Ford's criticifms, he wrote more freely. While he was 
employed on his next work, " The Conqueft of Mexico," he 
made fuch memoranda as the following : " I will write calamo 
currente, and not weigh out my words like gold-duft, which 
they are far from being." " Be not faftidious, efpecially about 
phrafeology. Do not work for too much euphony. It is loft 
in the mafs." " Do not elaborate and podder over the ftyle." 
" Think more of general effect ; don't quiddle." 

When the " Mexico " was published, he found no reafon to | s ?« c c ^ c C fto 
regret the indulgence he had thus granted to himfelf in its 
compofition. He learned, at once, from the Reviews and in 
many other ways, that his manner was regarded as richer, freer, 
more animated and graceful than it had been in his " Fer- 
dinand and Ifabella." "This," he says, " is a very important 
fact; for I wrote with much lefs faftidioufnefs and elaboration. 
Yet I rarely wrote without revolving the chapter half a dozen 



Defires freedom 
of ftyle. 



Mexico.' 



8 " Tried to write with imperfect pre- 
thinking, i. e. thinking, as Irving faid to 
me, with a pen. It won't do for bad eyes. 
It requires too much correcting. The 
corre&ing in the mind and writing from 
29 



memory fuit my peculiarities bodily, and, 
I fufpeft, mental, better than the other 
procefs." He was approaching the end 
of the " Conqueft of Mexico" when he- 
wrote this. 



226 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Hallam, 



William Hickling Prescott. 



His ftyle formed 
confiftently 
with his 
whole char 
after. 



times in my mind. But I did not podder over particular 
phrafes. Had I accepted half of my good friend Folfom's 
corrections, what would have become of my ftyle? Yet they 
had, and always will have, their value for accurate analyfis of 
language and thought." 9 

From this time to the end of his life, — a period of fif- 
teen years, — he makes hardly any memoranda on his ftyle, 
and none of any confequence. Nor was there reafon why 
he mould. His manner of writing was, from the time he 
published " The Conqueft of Mexico," not only formed but 
fanclioned ; and fanclioned, not only by the public at large, 
but by thofe whofe opinion is decifive. Mr. Milman's review 
of that work, and the conclufion of one in the " Chriftian 
Examiner " by Mr. George T. Curtis, — in both of which the 
remarks on his ftyle are very beautiful, and, as I know, gave 
Mr. Prefcott much pleafure, — left no doubt in his mind 
touching this point. Hallam, too, noticed by Sir James 
Mackintofh as Angularly parfimonious in commendation, wrote 
to Mr. Prefcott, December 29th, 1843 : "Your ftyle appears 
to me to be nearly perfect." With thefe judgments before 
him, and others hardly lefs valued and fafe, he had no motive 
for reconfidering his ftyle, if he had defired, for any reafon, to 
do fo. But he was too wife to defire it. 

It may, perhaps, feem Angular to thofe who knew him little, 
that fuch a ftyle fhould have been formed by fuch a procefs ; 
that the fevere, minute rules and principles in which it was 
originally laid fhould have been, as it were, cavalierly thrown 
afide, and a manner, fometimes gay and fparkling, fometimes 
rich and eloquent, but always natural and eafy, fhould have 
been the refult. This, however, was characleriftic of his 
whole moral conftitution and conduct, and was in harmony 
with the principles and habits that in other refpects governed 

9 Mr. Folfom had the excellent habit geflions were due to the author. I fpeak 

of noting whatever occurred to him as as one who has profited by his fkill and 

doubtful, no lefs than what he regarded as kindnefs. 
a blemifh, thinking that fuch minute fug- 






Style. 



227 



his life. Thus every day in his ftudy he was rigorous with Chap - XVI. 
himfelf, and watchful of thofe he employed ; but in his family I 1844. 
and with his friends nobody was more free, gay, and unexact- j &t. 48. 
ing. Thofe who met him only at the dinner-table, or in 
general fociety, would be furprifed to learn that his wine even 
there was carefully meafured, and that, if he feemed to indulge 
as much as others did, and to enjoy his indulgence more, it 
was all upon a fyftem fettled beforehand, juft as much as was 
his fpare e very-day diet at home. How vigilant he was in 
whatever regarded his character ; how ftridtly he called himfelf 
to account in thofe folitary half-hours on Sunday when he 
looked over the fecret record of his failings and faults, we 
have fcen ; but who ever faw reftraint in his manner when he 
was with others ; who ever faw him when he feemed to be 
watchful of himfelf, or to be thinking of the principles that 
governed his life ? And juft fo it was with his ftyle. He 
wrote rapidly and eafily. But the rules and principles on 
which his manner refted, even down to its fmalleft details, had 
been fo early and fo deeply fettled, that they had become like 
inftincts, and were neither recurred to nor needed when he 
was in the final act of compofition. 10 

But there was one charm in Mr. Prefcott's ftyle which, I His P eH ° nal 

J cnsr.iCTt r 1 

think, was much felt, without being much underftood by the bbftyie. 
great mafs of his readers. He put not a little of his perfonal 
character into it ; a great deal more, I think, than is common 
with writers of acknowledged eminence. The confequence 
was, that the multitudes who knew him in no way except as 
an author were yet infenfibly drawn to him by the qualities 
that made him {o dear to his friends as a man, and felt, in 
fome degree, the attachment that is commonly the refult only 
of perfonal intercourfe. They feemed to know him more 

10 There are fome remarks by Mr. Pref- danger of Americanifms, as they arc called, 

cott on purity of ftyle, in his Memoir of Mr. Prefcott maintaining that " one and 

Mr. John Pickering'(Maflachufetts Hiftor- the fame language cannot have two Hand 

ical Society's Colleftions, 8vo, Third ards of purity." See alfo what Mr. 

Series, Vol. X. pp. 210, 211) which are Marfh fays in his excellent Lechir 

valuable. But thev relate chieflv to the the Englifh Language, (1 860), pp. 446 iijq. 



228 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



His infirmity 
influences his 
ftyle in two 
ways. 



Firft. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



than they know other authors whom they have never feen ; 
and as moft of us have favorite writers without being able 
always to explain why they are fuch, he became peculiarly fo 
to many, who yet never flopped to inquire what was the caufe 
of an intereft fo agreeable to them. 

To this refult — the infenfible communication to his works 
of fo much that belonged to himfelf perfonally and to his 
inmoft nature — two circumftances, immediately connected 
with the infirmity of his fight, I doubt not, contributed. 

The firft of thefe circumftances was the long and fevere 
thought which he felt himfelf compelled to give in the courfe 
of his investigation of any fubject, before he began to write 
on it. For, after he had collected the materials for any chapter, 
or other lefs definite portion of his fubject, — that is, after every- 
thing about it in the way of authority or opinion had been 
read to him, and he had caufed it all to be embodied in fhort 
notes, to which he liftened again and again, as the only way to 
make himfelf mailer of their contents, — then he fat down, as 
we have feen, in filence, and gave to the whole the benefit of 
the moft vigorous action of his own mind. Being generally 
unable to look at all at the notes which had been thus prepared 
for him, he turned every fact or circumftance in the cafe on 
which he was employed over and over again in his memory, 
and examined on every fide whatever related to it. While 
doing this, he put the greateft ftrefs he was able to put on 
his faculties, and urged his mind to the moft concentrated and 
unbroken action, so as to make fure that he had maftered all 
the details. And this procefs was fometimes long-continued. 
I knew one inftance in which, after preparatory inveftigations 
which occupied only two days, he gave yet three days more to 
the mere fhaping and moulding of his materials. The refult 
was fure. The general outline was right, if it was in his power 
to make it right. But no other procefs, I fuppofe, could have 
fo completely digefted and harmonized his materials, or made 
them fo completely a part of himfelf; no other procefs could 
have tinged his works fo largely and fo deeply with what was 



Style. 



moft characteriftic of his own mind and temperament ; noth- 
ing could have made fo certain to the reader his love of truth, 
of juftice, of liberty, of toleration. And for thefe and other 
kindred qualities, thus infenfibly but thoroughly infufed into 
the very materials and fabric of his tiflues, though almoft 
never feen on their furface, the reader, after a little experience, 
came to truft the author, and take a perfonal intereft in him, 
without confidering or knowing exactly why he did it. The 
chord of fympathy between them was invifible, indeed, but 
it was already there, and it was ftrong enough to hold them 
together. 

But thus far in the procefs of his work not a phrafe or 
fentence had been adjufted or thought out. The compofition, 
as that word is commonly underftood, was ftill to be done. 
And here again his infirmity was a controlling influence, and 
is to be counted among the fecrets of a manner which has 
been found at once fo fimple and lb charming. He was com- 
pelled to prepare everything, down to the fmalleft details, in 
his memory, and to correct and fafhion it all while it was ftill 
held there in filent fufpenfe ; after which he wrote it down, 
by means of his noctograph, in the freest and boldeft manner, 
without any opportunity really to change the phrafeology as 
he went along, and with little power to alter or modify it 
afterwards. This, I doubt not, was among the principal caufes 
of the ftrength as well as of the grace, eafe, and attraclivenefs 
of his ftyle. It gave a life, a freihnefs, a freedom, both to his 
thoughts and to his mode of exprefling them. It made his 
compofition more akin than it could otherwife have been to 
the peculiar fervor and happinefs of extemporaneous difcuilion. 
It not only enabled but it led him to addrefs his reader, as it 
were, with his natural voice, fo that thofe who never heard a 
word from his lips feemed yet, in this way, to find fomething 
like its effects in the flow and cadence of his fentences. 

By fuch proceiTes and habits, Mr. Prefcott's ftyle, which he 
began to form with a diftind: purpofe in 1822, became, before 
he had finiihed the " Ferdinand and Ilabella," fifteen years 



229 

Chap. XVI. 

1844. 

JEt. 48. 



Second. 



230 



Chap. XVI. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



afterwards, in its effential characteriftics, what it is in all his 
publifhed hiftorical works. At firft, this mode of compofi- 
tion — fo different from the common one of compofing while 
the pen is in the author's hand, excited and influenced as moft 
writers are by its mechanical movements, and by the affocia- 
tions they awaken — was difficult and difagreeable. But I 
never knew him to give up any good thing for either of thefe 
reafons. On the contrary, he always went on the more ear- 
neftly. And the extent to which, in this particular cafe, he 
fucceeded, was remarkable. For, as we have feen, he was able 
to carry what was equal to fixty pages of printed matter in 
his memory for many days, correcting and finifhing its ftyle as 
he walked or rode or drove for his daily exercife. 

In 1839, therefore, after going carefully over the whole 
ground, he faid, as we have noticed, " My conclufion is, that 
the reader may take my ftyle for better or for worfe, as it now 
is." And to this conclufion he wifely adhered. His manner 
became, perhaps, a little freer and eafier, from continued prac- 
tice, and from the confidence that fuccefs neceflarily brings 
with it ; but, in its effential elements and characteristics, it was 
never changed. 




2 3 l 




CHAPTER XVII. 

1844- 1845. 

Sits for his Portrait and Buji. — Vifit to New York. — Miscellaneous 
Reading. — Materials for the cc Conqueft of Peru." — Begins to write. 
— Death of his Father. — Its Effetl on him. — Refumes Work. — Letter 
from Humboldt. — Eletlion into the French Inftitute, and into the Royal 
Society of Berlin. 



ND now," he fays on the 3d of February, 1844, Chap. XVII. 
"now I propofe to break ground on 'Peru.' is 44 . 
I (hall work the mine, however, at mv leifure. 
Why mould I hurry? " Nor did he. ' On the 
contrary, he procraftinated, as ufual, from wn 
unwillingnefs to begin hard work. He fat to 
Mr. Jofeph Ames for his portrait in oils, an. excellent piece oi 
coloring, now in the poffeffion of Mr. James Lawrence, and to 
Mr. Richard S. Greenough for a buft, now in the poffeffion oi 




Air. 4-. 



" Conquefl of 
Peru. 



Portrait and 
buft. 



232 



Chap. XVII. 

1844. 
JEt. 47. 



Vifit to New 
York. 



JEt. 48. 



Archbifhop 
Hughes. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Mrs. Prefcott, beautiful as a work of art, and very valuable as 
a happy likenefs at the period when it was taken. But the fit- 
tings to thefe artifts confumed a good deal of time, and broke 
up many days in February and March. He was, however, too 
willing to be idle. 

In the middle of April he made a vifit to New York, partly 
out of liftleflhefs, and partly in order to fettle fome trifling affairs 
with his publifhers. It was defigned to fill only a few days; 
but, by the folicitations of friends and the eagernefs to become 
acquainted with him on the part of thofe who had not earlier 
enjoyed that pleafure, it proved to be a vifit of a fortnight, and 
a very gay and happy one. 

"Three weeks fince," he fays under date of May 5th, 1844, "I went to 
New York, thinking I might pafs a couple of days. It turned out twelve, and 
then I found it no eafy matter to break away from friends who, during my flay 
there, feafled and feted me to the top of my conflitution. Not a day in which 
I rofe before nine, dined before five or fix, went to bed before twelve. Two 
years ago I did not know half a dozen New-Yorkers ; I have now made the 
acquaintance of two hundred at leafl, and the friendfhip, I trufl, of many. The 
cordiality with which I was greeted is one of the mofl gratifying tributes I have 
received from my countrymen, coming as it did from all clafles and profeflions. 
It pleafed me that the head of the Roman Catholic clergy, Archbifhop Hughes, 
a highly refpe&able perfon, mould openly thank and commend me for ' the 
liberality I had fhown in my treatment of the Catholics.' * I have flood the 
tug of focial war pretty well. Yet, on the whole, it was too long a time for 
fuch excitement. Five days mould be the limit. The faculties become weary, 
and the time does not move fo fleetly as in the regular occupations at home. 
How could I fland then a feafon in London ? I fhall not try. Nor fhall I ever 
exceed two, or at mofl three days, in a great American city." 

During all this time — I mean during the autumn, winter, 
and fpring of 1843 anc ^ J ^44 — he thought very little of his 



1 In connection with this well-deferved 
commendation from a man fo eminent, 
may be aptly mentioned a remark which 
the late Prefident John Quincy Adams 
made to Mr. Edmund B. Otis, who, dur- 
ing four years, rendered excellent and kind 
fervice to Mr. Prefcott, as his fecretary. 
" Mr. Adams faid, that Mr. Prefcott pof- 
fefTed the two great qualifications of an hif- 



torian, who mould be apparently without 
country and without religion. This," Mr. 
Otis adds, " he explained by faying that 
the hiftory mould not fhow the political 
or religious bias of the hiftorian. It would 
be difficult, Mr. Adams thought, to tell 
whether Mr. Prefcott were a Proteflant 
or a Catholic, a monarchifl or a repub- 
lican." See Appendix (C). 




r 



m 



Idleness. 



" Conqueft of Peru." He even, for a large part of the period, 
made few entries among his literary memoranda; and when 
he began the record again, after an abfolute filence of almoft 
three months, he fays, in relation to this unwonted neglect, 
that it was indeed a very long interval, and that fuch long 
intervals were proof either of great occupation or great idle- 
nefs. " The latter," he adds, " will account for this." 

He had, however, not been fo wholly idle as fuch felf- 
reproach might feem to imply. He had liftened to the Inca 
GarcilarTo's important Commentaries on the earlieft hiftory and 
traditions of Peru ; to fome of the more familiar and common 
writers who cover the fame ground ; and to a manufcript of 
Sarmiento, Prefident of the Royal Council of the Indies, who 
had travelled in that part of South America immediately after 
its conqueft, and who is one of the moft ample and truftworthy 
authorities for its early condition. It was not, indeed, much 
to have accomplished in fo long a time, nor was any of it dif- 
ficult or difagreeable; but his interruptions had been many and 
inevitable. During his father's illnefs he had watched him 
with a care that interfered not a little with his own regular 
occupations, and during his convalefcence had accompanied 
him in many a long walk, from which he derived no little 
pleafure and confolation. But his father, whofe faculties had 
not been impaired by his illnefs, was now reftored to as much 
phyfical health as he was ever likely to enjoy, and, from his 
nature, rather preferred to be independent in his out-of-door 
exercife than to be aififted or accompanied. The fon, there- 
fore, after nine months of ''literary loafing," as he called it, 
inftead of three, which he had propofed to himfelf, turned 
refolutely to his new work. 

He did not need to make a collection of materials for it. 
That had been done when he gathered his ample ftores for 
the " Conqueft of Mexico." His firft ftudies were on Cieza 
de Leon, the careful geographer of Peru, contemporary almoft 
with its conqueft ; on Diego Fernandez de Palencia, a fome- 
what tedious chronicler of the country at the fame period ; 
3° 



233 



Chap. XVII. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Want of induf- 
try. 



Books he read. 



Mr. Prefcott, 
fenior. 



Studies for the 
" Conqueft of 
Peru." 



234 



William Hickling Prescott 



Chap. XVII. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Early period of 
Peruvian civ- 
ilization. 



Death of his 
brother. 



Journey to 

Niagara. 

Reads Alfieri's 
Life. 



Begins to write 
the "Conqueft 
of Peru." 



on Fernando Montefinos, who lived a century later, and is 
much lefs truftworthy ; and on the crude collections of Lord 
Kingfborough, made in our own time, but marked with the 
credulity and rafhnefs of the time of the Pizarros. This 
reading, and more of the fame fort during the fummer of 1844, 
all related to the mythical rather than to the hiftorical period 
of Peruvian Antiquities; and before the month of Auguft was 
ended the mere notes and references for this part of his fubject 
filled above three hundred compact pages. It was not, indeed, 
fo important as the correfponding period of the Mexican an- 
nals, but it was interefting, and had its peculiar attractions. 
He made his plan for it, accordingly, and, having accumulated 
notes to the amount of eighty large meets, allowed five or fix 
months for the work, and a hundred pages. But here, as in the 
cafe of the " Mexico/' he was miftaken, although his error 
was lefs considerable. It took eight months and made a hun- 
dred and eighty pages ; more troublefome and difagreeable 
from the nature of the fubjecl: than any other part of the work, 
and in fome refpects more fo than the Introduction to the 
" Conqueft of Mexico." 

But before he could put pen to paper, the courfe of his 
ftudies was again interrupted, firft by the death of his brother 
Edward, 2 which occurred at fea on a voyage to Europe, and 
afterwards by a journey to Niagara on account of his daughter's 
health, which for fome months had given caufe for anxiety. 
At laft, however, after reading Alfieri's life to quicken his 
courage, he began his work in earneft. " I find it very diffi- 
cult," he faid, " to fcrew up my wits to the hiftoric pitch ; fo 
much for the vagabond life I have been leading; and breaking 
ground on a new fubject is always a dreary bufinefs." 

He wrote the firft fentences on the 12th of Auguft, 1844, a 
little more than a year from the time when he had completed 
his " Conqueft of Mexico." He was at Nahant, where — 
what with the rheumatifm which often troubled him much 
in that damp climate, and the interruptions of company, which 

2 For a notice of his brother Edward, fee Appendix (A), on the Prefcott family. 



Death of his Father. 



235 



Pepperell. 



at fuch a watering-place could not always be avoided, he Chap. xvir. 
found his progrefs both flow and uneafy. But he made 1844. 
vigorous efforts with himfelf, and fucceeded, before he left ^t. 48. 
the fea-fhore, fo far as to make the following record : — 

Induftry good, and with increafed intereft. Spirits — an amiable word for 
temper — improved. Beft recipe, occupation with things, not felf. 

At Pepperell, where, as was his cuftom, he paffed the early 
autumn, he purfued his labors in a manner ftill more fatif- 
faclory to himfelf. 

" Induftry," he fays, referring to the good effe&s of a tranquil country-life, 
— "induftry, as ufual, excellent; intereft awakened; progrefs fenfible ; the fteam 
is up." 

And again a few days later : — 

I have got my working-tackle on board, and mould be delighted not to quit 
thefe highland folitudes till they are buried under fnow-drifts. Now, how 
glorious they are to eye and ear and every other fenfe, — the glories of an 
American autumn. Surely a man is better, and forms a better eftimate of 
life and its worthleffnefs here in the country than anywhere elfe. 

The town, as he anticipated, was lefs favorable to work. 
When he had been there fome time, he noted : " Nearly three 
weeks in town, and not looked at ' Peru.' The old fin of the 
town. Shall I never reform ? " Still, after the preiTure of 
affairs which had accumulated during his abfence was re- 
moved, and a little gay lounging among his friends was over, 
he was going on well again, when he was flopped by a great 
forrow. His father died fuddenly on Sunday morning, the 
8th of December, and an hour afterwards I received from him 
the following note : — 

My dear Friend, 
I write to tell you, what you mav learn from other fources, and what will gii e 
you much pain. My father was taken with a fainting turn this morning, about 
eight o'clock, which has terminated fatally. Nathan, who takes this, will give 
you the account. 

We are all very tranquil, as my writing to you now (hows. Do not come 
till after church, as nothing can be done now. 

Your affectionate 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Bofton. 



Death of Mr. 
Prefcott, fen- 

ior. 



236 



Chap. XVII 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Erfedr. of his 
father's death 



Evening after 
the funeral. 



Occupation. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



I went to him, of courfe, as foon as the morning fervices 
were over, and found him tranquil, indeed, but more tenderly 
and more eafily moved than I had ever feen him before, and 
more than I ever faw him afterwards. His mind was forrow- 
fully filled with the thought of the great tie that had been fo 
fuddenly broken, and of the confequences that muft follow. 
He could talk only of his father or of his defolate mother ; 
and, although I faw him again before the day was ended, and 
each fucceeding day afterwards for fome time, it was ftill the 
fame. He was unable to think continuoufly on any other 
fubjecl:. There was, however, nothing violent or extravagant 
in his forrow. He faw things as they really were. He did 
not feem fo much opprerTed with the idea of his immediate 
lofs, as with the idea that it was one he mould never ceafe to 
feel. And in this he judged himfelf rightly. He was always 
afterwards more or lefs fenlible of the void that had been left 
by the death of his father, and recurred to it frequently in 
converfation with me, down even to one of the laft times I 
faw him. 

The evening after the funeral there feemed to be more of 
bitternefs in his grief than there had been before. The day 
had been raw and cheerlefs, with much wind and duft in the 
ftreets as the proceffion parTed along. His eye had been feri- 
oufly troubled by it, and was ftill painful. I noticed how clofe 
he had followed the body as we turned in, all on foot, to enter 
the. crypt under St. Paul's Church, and that his head at that 
moment was almoft brought in contact with the fad drapery 
of the hearfe. " Yes," he faid, " my eye fufFered very much 
from the wind and duft that came out of the paflage, and he 
protected me to the laft, as he always had." 

It was long before he could fettle himfelf to his work 
again. The world had affumed a new look to him, and its 
ways feemed harder to tread. Burdens were hereafter to reft 
on his fhoulders which had earlier been borne by another. 
Counfels were to fail on which he had always relied. Much 
bufinefs was to be done requiring both time and thought. 



Letter from Baron Humboldt. 



Chap. XVII. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Difficulty of 
beginning to 
work again. 



More than two months, therefore, elapfed before he returned 
to his literary labors, and when he did he found it impoffible 
to recover, in a manner at all fatisfacliory to himfelf, the 
thoughts with which he had intended to go on, and which, 
before his father's death, lay all fettled and fpread out in his 
memory. He found, as he faid, that they had been effaced as 
completely as if they had been wiped out by a iponge. He 
began, therefore, a new chapter, without abfolutely nnifhing 
the one on which he had till then been employed. 

He was foon cheered on his courfe by the following letter 
from Alexander von Humboldt, which he juftly deemed " as 
high a recompenfe as he could receive in this way " : — 



Monsieur, 
Dans la crainte, que peut etre la premiere expreffion de ma jufte admiration, 
addreflee, au moment ou je recevais votre important ouvrage fur le Me'xique, 
ne vous foit pas parvenue, je donne ce peu de lignes a Monf. Lieber, qui nous 
eft cher, et qui part pour votre beau pays. Apres avoir deploye le grand 
et noble talent d'hiftorien de l'Europe dans la Vie de Ferdinand et d'Ifabelle, 

— apres avoir retrace des evenements que les calamites recentes de l'Efpagne 
rendent doublement inftru&ives aux peuples "qui oublient et apprennent peu," 

— Monf. Prefcott a daigne jetter une vive lumiere fur un pays qui a eu Pindepen- 
dance avant les elements de la liberte civile ; mais auquel je tiens par tous les 
liens de la reconnaiftance et des fouvenirs, croyant avoir le faible merite d'avoir 
fait connaitre le premier, par des obfervations aftronomiques et des mefures de 
hauteur, la merveilleufe configuration du Mexique, et le reflet de cette configu- 
ration fur les progres et les entraves de la civilization. Ma fatisfa&ion a ete 
bien grande en etudiant ligne par ligne votre excellent ouvrage, Monfieur. 
On eft un juge fevere, fouvent enclin a Pinjuftice, lorfqu'on a eu la vivante im- 
preflion des lieux et que Petude de Phiftoire antique dont je me fuis occupee 
avec predilection a ete fuivie fur le fol meme, ou une partie des grands evene- 
ments s'eft pafTee. La feverite eft defarmee, Monfieur, a la lecture de votre 
" Conquete du Mexique." Vous peignez avec fucces parce que vous avez vu 
des yeux de Pefprit, du fens interieur. C'eft un bonheur pour moi, citoyen du 
Mexique, d'avoir vecu aflez longtemps pour vous lire ; pour vous parler de ma 
reconnaiftance des expreflions de bienveillance dont vous avez honore mon nom. 
L'Amerique Efpagnole, bien malheureufe aujourd'hui, dechiree par d'ignobles SpaniA Amei 
guerres inteftines — trop grande heureufement, pour que Pimportation d'un joug 
etranger foit poftible — trouvera avec toute fociete humaine fon equilibre in- 
terieur. Je ne defefpere pas. Je dirai avec Chriftophe Columb, dans le rdve 
a la riviere de Belem : Que le Seigneur tient dans fon pouvoir une longuc 



237 



Ferdinand and 
Ifabella." 



Mexic 



Col u m In 



2 3 8 



Chap. XVII. 

1845. 
JEt. 48. 



French Inftitute 



Royal Society 
of Berlin. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



heredite d'annees ; muchas heredades tiene el Senor y grandifimas.3 Si je n'etais 
tout occupe de mon Cofmos — d'une Phyfique du Monde — que j'ai l'impru- 
dence d'imprimer, j'aurais voulu traduire votre ouvrage dans la langue de mon 
pays. 

Je fuis heureux de favoir que votre fante s'eft folidement amelioree, et 
que nous pouvons efperer vos travaux fur le Perou et fon antique et myfterieufe 
civilization. 

Agreez, Monfieur, je vous prie, l'expremon renouvelee du refpectueux attache- 
ment avec lequel j'ai l'honneur d'etre, 
Monfieur, 

Votre tres humble et tres obeiflant ferviteur, 

Alexandre de Humboldt. 

A Sans Souci, ce 26 Oftobre, 1844. 

On devrait fe rappeler un jour, que lorfque j'ai publie mon Atlas du Mexique 
et l'Effai Politique il n'exiftait aucune autre carte du pays, que celle qu'Alzate 
a offert a l'Academie des Sciences a Paris. 



Such a letter was, as he intimated, an honor fecond to few 
that he could receive. Other honors, however, were not want- 
ing. Four months later — in February, 1845 — • ne was e l e & e d 
into the French Inftitute, as a Correfponding Member of the 
Academy of Moral and Political Science, and into the Royal 
Society of Berlin, as a Correfponding Member of the Clafs of 
Philofophy and Hiftory. He had no intimation of either 
until he received the diploma announcing it; and it was not 
until fome weeks afterwards, April 23, 1845, t ^ iat ^ e ma de the 
following entry among his literary memoranda : — 

In my lazinefs I forgot to record the greateft academic honor I have received, 
— the greateft I mail ever receive, — my election as Correfponding Member 
of the French Inftitute, as one of the Academy of Moral and Political Science. 



3 The words which Humboldt has here 
cited from memory, and which he has a 
little fpiritualized, are found in a letter 
which Columbus wrote from Jamaica, July 
7, 1503, to Ferdinand and Ifabella, giving 
an eloquent and folemn account of a vifion 
which he believed himfelf to have had on 
the coaft of Veragua, — one of the mag- 
nificent illufions which occafionally filled 
his mind, and perfuaded him that he was 



infpired and commiffioned of Heaven to 
difcover the paffage to the Indies, and per- 
haps the terreftrial paradife. The exadl 
words referred to by Humboldt are, mu- 
chas heredades tiene El> grandifimas. They 
refer to God, and, with the context, inti- 
mate that Columbus himfelf was to receive 
fome of thefe referved "heredades," — 
pojfejjions , or inheritances. 



Elected into the Royal Society of Berlin. 

I was chofen to fill the vacancy occafioned by the death of the illuftrious 
Navarrete. This circumftance, together with the fa£t, that I did not canvafs 
for the election, as is very ufual with the candidates, makes the compliment the 
more grateful to me. 

By the laft fteamer I received a diploma from the Royal Society of Berlin 
alfo, as Correfponding Member of the Clafs of Philofophy and Hiftory. This 
body, over which Humboldt prefides, and which has been made famous by 
the learned labors of Niebuhr, Von Raumer, Ranke, &c, &c, ranks next 
to the Inftitute among the great Academies of the Continent. Such tefti- 
monies, from a diftant land, are the real rewards of a fcholar. What pleafure 
would they have given to my dear father ! I feel as if they came too late ! 

Similar remarks, as to the regret he felt that his father could 
no longer mare fuch honors with him, he had made earlier to 
more than one of his friends, with no little emotion. 4 They 
were honors of which he was always naturally and juftly 
proud, — for they had been vouchfafed neither to Bowditch 
nor to Irving, — but forrow for a time dimmed their brightnefs 
to him. As Montaigne faid on the death of Charron, " We 
had everything in common, and, now that he is gone, I feel as 
if I had no right to his part." 

Of the election at Berlin, which, according to the diploma, 
was made in February, 1845, I have no details; but at Paris, 
I believe, the forms were thofe regularly obferved. On the 
1 8th of January, 1845, M. Mignet, on behalf of the Section 
of Hiftory, reported to the Academy of Moral and Political 
Science the names of thofe who were propofed as candidates 
to fill the place of Navarrete, who had died the preceding 
year ; viz. in the firft rank, Mr. Prefcott ; in the fecond rank, 
ex cequo, Mr. Turner and Mr. Bancroft ; in the third, Mr. 
Dahlmann. M. Mignet at this meeting explained the grounds 
for his report, and the Prefident inquired whether the Academy 

gence he had received, he added immedi- 
ately a ftrong expreffion of his regret that 
the unfolicited and unexpected honor had 
not come to him before the death of his 
father. Mr. Parfons, Mr. Prefcott's early 
friend, has fcnt me a ftatement fomewhat 
fimilar. Both agree entirely with my own 
recollections and thofe of his family, U to 
his feelings at the fame period. 



239 



4 This feems, indeed, to have been his 
firft feeling on receiving the intelligence. 
Dr. George Hayward, the diftinguifhed 
furgeon, met him on the fteps of the poft- 
office as he came with the official notice 
of his election to the Inftitute in his hand, 
and told me a few days afterwards, that, 
while Mr. Prefcott mowed without hefita- 
tion how agreeable to him was the intelli- 



Chap. XVII. 

1845. 
JEt. 48. 



Details of elec- 
tion. 



240 



Chap. XVII 

1845. 
JEt. 48. 



Col. Afpinwall. 



1844. 

State of New 
York. 



Hard to work. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



would confine itfelf to the lift of candidates thus offered. M. 
Berenger, 5 without propofing to add the name of M. Cefare 
Cantu, called the attention of the Section to his claims. M. 
Mignet and M. Coufin then fpoke, and the fubjecT: was paffed 
over. At the next meeting, — that of January 25th, — when 
the fubjed: came up in courfe, no difcuffion took place ; and 
on the 1 ft of February, when the election was made, Mr. 
Prefcott was chofen by eighteen ballots out of twenty, one 
being for Mr. Bancroft and one blank. 

In a letter of bufinefs to his friend, Colonel Afpinwall, at 
London, dated March 30th, Mr. Prefcott fays, with his accuf- 
tomed franknefs : — 

You will be pleafed to learn that by the laft fteamer I received a diploma 
of Correfponding Member of the Inftitute of France, to fill the vacancy 
occafioned by the death of the Spanifh hiftorian Navarrete. This academic 
honor is often canvafled pretty zealoufly for \ but, as I got it without the afking 
on my part, it is the more welcome. I don't know how they came to think of 
an out-of-the-way Yankee for it. 6 



MEMORANDA. 

June 30, 1844. — Nahant, where lighted the 28th. Returned from my tour 
to Trenton and Niagara Falls on the 25th, being fifteen days. A moft romantic 
excurfion of eleven hundred miles through the whole length of the great Empire 
State, which the traveller fees in all its glory of vegetation and wonderful 
fertility, — its noble ftreams, lofty woods, and matchlefs cataracts, — the valley 
of the Mohawk, the broad Hudfon, with its navy of little vefTels, the Erie Canal, 
winding like a filver fnake through its cultivated fields, — its cities and villages 
rifing up like fairy creations in the wide expanfe of its cjearings, and all the 
evidences of a bufy, thriving population amidft the wreck of gigantic forefts, 
that mow the conteft with favage nature had not been of very long date. It is 
indeed the " Empire State," and Niagara is a fitting termination to fuch a noble 
tour. But I grow twaddling. A pleafant tour of a couple of weeks — not 
more — with pleafant companions (mine were fo), is not a bad break into the 
ftill life of the ftudent. It gives zeft to the quiet courfe of literary labor. Yet 
it is not eafy, after fuch a vagabond life, to come up to the fcratch. The hide 
gets fomewhat infenfible to the fpur of lofty ambition, — that laft infirmity which 
the poet fpeaks of, Yet may I never be infenfible to it. 



5 Not the poet, who fpelt his name 
differently, but a diftinguifhed jurift and 
flatefman. 



6 See Appendix (D), for other literary 
honors. 



Literary Activity. 



241 



July 21, 1844. — Induftry and literary ardor improve. Been reading, or 
rather liftening to, Alfieri's Life, — a ftrange being, with three ruling paflions, lit- 
erary glory, love, and horfes ! the laft not the leaft powerful. His literary zeal — 
by fits only, it is true — is quite ftimulating, and, like Gibbon's Memoirs, roufes 
the dormant fpark in me. It is well occafionally to reinvigorate by the perufal of 
works fo ftirring to the flagging ftudent. I ought not to flag with fuch an 
audience as I am now fure to have. Life out of Bofton, whether at Nahant or 
Pepperell, very favorable to regular ftudious habits and fcholar-like ardor. My 
ideal would be beft accomplifhed by a full fix months' refidence in the quiet 
country. But would my general vigor, and efpecially that of the ftomach, allow 
it ? I fear not. This is a good place for effective work, even in the dog-days. 
But my eyes are better in the country, and rheumatifm becomes a formidable 
enemy on thefe bleak and mifty mores. 

The face of nature, whether here or in the country, is moft tranquillizing, 
and leads to contemplative occupation. I feel as if my ftudies, family, and the 
fight of a few friends, — non brevi intervallo, — not convivial friends, would 
anfwer all my defires, and beft keep alive the beft fource of happinefs in me ; 
literary ambition, not the mere ambition of fame, — I have obtained that, — but 
of advancing the interefts of humanity by the diffufion of ufeful truth. I have 
been more truly gratified by feveral meflages I have received fince the publica- 
tion of the ' Conqueft,' thanking me for the folace I had afforded in a fick- 
chamber, than by commendations from higher fources. Yet I read with 
fatisfa£tion a paflage in our Minifter Wheaton's letter from Berlin this week, in 
which he fays : c M. de Humboldt never ceafes praifing your book, and he is not 
a little difficult in his judgment of thofe who venture on his American ground.' 
Humboldt is the moft competent critic my work has to encounter. 

This week I have been reviewing my notes for the Introduction, already 
reaching to feventy meets, and not done yet. I have been arranging under what 
heads I muft diftribute x\\'\s farrago of fa£ts and fiction. The work of diftribu- 
tion, by the appropriate figure for each fentence, will be no joke. 

Been to town twice laft week, — moft uncommon for me, — once to fee 
my friend Calderon, returned as Minifter from Spain, and once to fee my poor 
friend Sumner, who has had a fentence of death palled on him by the phyficians. 
His After fat by his fide, ftruck with the fame difeafe. It was an affe&ing light 
to fee brother and fifter, thus hand in hand, preparing to walk through the dark 
valley. 7 I fhall lofe a good friend in Sumner, and one who, though I have 
known him but a few years, has done me many kind offices. 

Auguft 18, 1844. — Began Chapter I. of 'Book I., the Introduaion of the 
"Conqueft of Peru," on Monday, Auguft 12th ; wrote 8 noaograph = 10 
pp. print, — flow work and not particularly to my mind either. 1 have found 
it beft to alter my plan, and throw military policy into another chapter, and 
continue this chapter by treating of the civil adminiftration, elfe it conns 
cart before the horfe. 

7 It is not neceffary to fay that Mr. prognoftications relating to his filler were 
Sumner recovered from this attack. The unhappily fulfilled. 
3i 



Chap. XVII. 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 



Life in the 

country. 



Solace to the 
furYering. 



Humboldt. 



Conqueft of 
Peru." 



Mr. Charles 
Sumner. 



Conquclt of 

Peru." 



242 



Chap. XVII 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Literary occupa- 
tion. 

Little journey- 
ing. 



Simancas. 



Articles of 
Count Cir- 
court. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



My fpirits this feafon at Nahant have been variable, and my temper ditto ; 
I am convinced that I am to expect contentment only, or rather chiefly, from 
Jleady and engrojjing literary occupation. When one work is finifhed, don't paufe 
too long before another is begun, and fo on till eyes, ears, and fenfe give way ; 
then refignation ! I doubt even the policy of annual journeys ; am clear againft 
epifodical excurfions for a few days in addition to the one journey of two weeks 
at moft. I fufpecl: my fummer migrations for refidence will be enough for 
health, and better for fpirits. Locomotion riles up all the wits, till they are as 
muddy as a dirt-puddle, and they don't fettle again in a hurry. Is it not enough 
to occupy myfelf with my hiftorical purfuits, varying the fcene by change of 
refidence fuited to the feafon, and by occafionally entertaining and going into 
fociety, — occafionally, not often ? What a curfed place this is for rheumatifm 
and company, yet good for general vigor. No dog-days here, and all might be 
working-days if I had pluck for it. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Pepperell, Oft. 13, 1844. 

My dear Friend, 
I am glad to receive your very kind letter of Auguft 28th, and to learn that 
you have at length accomplifhed the refidencia at Simancas. Fifty-two days was 
a long while, and, if you had had the command of all your time, would have 
enabled you to have fifted, at the rapid rate at which you go on, half the library. 
But what abfurd rules ! I think you made the moft of that precious hour 
allowed for the papeles refervados. Your ufe of ciphers ftood you in good ftead. 
It was a rare piece of fortune to have ftumbled on fuch a budget, which nobody 
elfe has. But how can a government wifh to exclude the light from thofe who 
are occupied with illuftrating its hiftory, necefTarily compelling the hiftorian 
to take partial and limited views, and that, too, of events three hundred years 
old ! There will be a great trajlorno when the archives are poured into the 
Efcorial. 8 



TO COUNT ADOLPHE DE CIRCOURT. 

Bofton, Jan. 30, 1845. 

My dear Sir, 
I am truly obliged by your kind letter, and the beautiful pieces of criticifm 
from your pen which accompanied it. I have read them with the greateft 
pleafure. The account of the Venetian language is full of novel hiftorical 
details, as well as of architectural criticifms, that carry me back to thofe witching 
fcenes where in earlier life I patted fome very happy days. The fketch of the 
German paftor Hebel is conceived in the tranquil and beautiful fpirit which fo 

8 It was propofed to remove the col- dom relating to the national hiftory, as 
lections of Simancas to the Efcorial, and had been fo admirably done in Seville for 
there unite all the documents of the king- the hiftory of Spanifh America. 



Letter to Cotmt Circottrt. 



243 



1845. 

JEt. 48. 



Michel Cheva- 
lier. 



well accords with his own life and character. And the tranflations of the Tartar Chap. XVII 

poems have all the frefhnefs of original compofition, with a fingular coloring 

of thought altogether different from the European. Why do you not gather 

thefe little gems of criticifm together, which you thus fcatter at random, into one 

collection, where they may be preferved as the emanation of one and the fame 

mind? I was talking this over with Ticknor the other day, and we both agreed 

that hw volumes of any one author would prefent fuch a rich variety of criticifm 

and difquifition on interefting and very diverfified topics. And yet you write 

with the eafe and fulnefs of one who had made each of thefe topics his particular 

ftudv. I affure you I am faying to you what I have faid to our common friend, 

and he, with a fuperior judgment to mine, fully confirmed. 

I muff alfo thank vou for M. Chevalier's article in the " Journal des Debats," 
which contains a fpirited analvfis of my hiftorical fubjecl:. It is very kind 
in him to beftow fo much time on it, and I have now written to thank him, and 
mail requeft his acceptance of a copy of the American edition of the work, 
which I mall fend this week by the New York packet, with another copy to the 
French tranflator. I efteem mvfelf fortunate in the profpecl: of feeing my 
thoughts clothed in the beautiful tongue of Racine and Rouffeau. Did I 
mention to you that the work is in procefs of tranflation in Berlin and in Rome? 
In Mexico, a Spanifh tranflator has undertaken to make fuch alterations (accord- 
ing to his profpectus) as fhall accommodate my religious ideas and my opinions of 
modern Mexico more fatisfactorily to the popular tafte ! 

Should you find leifure to write the notice which you contemplate in the 
" Bibliotheque Univerfelle," you will, of courfe, have the kindnefs to forward 
me a copy ; though I truft you will not allow this fubjecl: to make fuch demands 
on your time as my former hiftory did, or elfe the publication of a new work by 
me will be no day of jubilee to you. 

A little while before I had the pleafure of receiving your letter, I met with a 
domeftic calamity of which I (hall allow myfelf to fpeak to one who has mown 
fuch a friendly intereft in my literary reputation. This is the death of mv 



father, who has been mv conftant companion, counfellor, and friend from 
childhood to the prefent time ; for we have always lived under the fame roof 
together. As he had the moft cultivated taftes himfelf, and took the deepeft 
intereft in my literary career, his fympathy had become almoft a neceflary part 
of my exiftence; and now that he is gone life wears a new afpec~t, and I feel 
that much of the incentive and the recompenfe of my labors is withdrawn from 
me. But I have no right to complain ; he was fpared to me, in the full 
poiTemon of his powers of head and heart, to a good old age. I take the liberty 
to enclofe you a little obituary notice of him from the pen of our friend 
Ticknor, as I know you will read what he has written with pleafure, and it 
gratifies mv own feelings to think that one for whom I feel as high a regard as 
yourfelf, in a diftant land, mould hold my father's name in honor. I hope you 
will not think this is a weaknefs. 

I pray you, my dear Sir, to accept the affurance of the fincere refpecl with 
w T hich I remain 

Your obliged friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Death of Mr. 
Prefcott, fen- 
ior. 



244 



Chap. XVII. 

1845. 
Mt. 48. 

Death of Mr. 
Prefcott, fen- 



Charadte 



William Hickling Prescott. 



MEMORANDA. 

February 6, 1845. — A long interval fince my laft entry, and one pregnant 
with important and moft melancholy remits to me, for in it I have loft my 
father, my counfellor, companion, and friend from boyhood to the hour of 
his death. This event took place on Sunday morning, about eight o'clock, 
December 8th, 1844. I had the fad comfort of being with him in his laft 
moments, and of witneffing his tranquil and beautiful death. It was in keeping 
with the whole tenor of his mild and philofophical life. He had complained of 
a flight obftruction or uneafinefs in his left fide for ten days before, and the bad 
weather confined him in the houfe, and prevented his getting his cuftomary 
exercife. The phyficians thought it a rheumatic affection. But he did not feel 
confidence in this. His ftrength became impaired by confinement, and half an 
hour before his death, while in the library in which he fpent fo many happy and 
profitable hours of his life, he was taken with a faintnefs. His old domeftic, 
Nathan Webfter, was there with him, and immediately ran for affiftance. My 
father recovered, but foon after relapfed. He was laid on the floor, and we 
were all apprehenfive of a recurrence of the melancholy attack with which 
he had been vifited at Pepperell, the year preceding. But his mind was 
not affected otherwife than with the languor approaching to infenfibility which 
belongs to faintnefs. On the fpeedy arrival of the phyfician he was carried up- 
ftairs to his own apartment, in the arms of the family, and in fifteen minutes his 
fpirit took its departure to a happier world. On an examination, it was found 
that the arteries leading from the heart had not conducted off the blood, and the 
preffure of this had caufed the uneafy fenfation. The machinery was worn out. 
The clock — to borrow the fimile of the poet — had run down, and flopped 
of its own accord. 

He lived to a good old age, being eighty-two Auguft 19th, 1844, and we have 
certainly great reafon for gratitude that he was fpared to us fo long, and that he 
did not, even then, outlive his noble faculties. To have furvived the decay of 
his mind would have been a blow which even he, with all his refignation, could 
not well have borne. But the temporary cloud of the preceding year had palled 
away, and he died in the full poffeffion of the powers which he has now 
returned, ftrengthened and increafed by unceafing induftry and careful culti- 
vation, into the hands of his merciful Father. Yet, though there is much, very 
much to be thankful for, it is only time that can reconcile me to the rupture of 
a tie that has fo long bound us clofely together. It is a great fatisfac~lion that 
his eminent virtues have been fo juftly appreciated by the community in which 
he lived. Rarely has a death excited fuch wide and fincere forrow. For his 
high intellectual character commanded refpecl: ; but his moral qualities, his 
purity of principle, his high fenfe of honor, his fympathy with others, efpecially 
thofe who flood moft in need of it, infured veneration and love. Yet thofe only 
who have dwelt under his roof, and enjoyed the fweet pleafures of the moft in- 
timate domeftic intercourfe, can eftimate the real extent of his excellence. 
The nearer the intimacy, the deeper and more conftant was the impreflion 
produced by his virtues. His character flood the teft of daily, hourly in- 
fpection. 



Character of his Father. 



It would be moft ungrateful in me not to acknowledge the goodnefs of that 
Providence which has fpared fuch a friend to be the guide of my fteps in youth, 
and my counfellor in riper years. And now that he is gone, it muft be my 
duty and my pleafure to profit by this long intercourfe, and to guide myfelf 
through the reft of my pilgrimage by the memory of his precepts and the light 
of his example. He ftill lives, and it muft be my care fo to live on earth as to 
be united with him again and forever. 

I have not felt in heart to refume my hiftorical labors fince his death, and my 
time has been much engrofled by neceflary attention to family affairs. But I 
muft no longer delay to return to my ftudies, although my intereft in them is 
much diminifhed, now that I have loft my beft recompenfe of fuccefs in his 
approbation. Yet to defer this longer would be weaknefs. It will at leaft be 
a fatisfa&ion to me to purfue the literary career in which he took fo much in- 
tereft, and the fuccefs of which, it is moft confoling for me to believe, fhed 
a ray of pleafure on the evening of his days. 




245 



Chap. XVII. 



JEt. 48. 



Studies. 



246 



Chap.XVIII, 

1844. 
JEt. 48. 

Mifcellanies. 



His own opinion 
of them. 




CHAPTER XVIII. 

1844- 1845. 

Publication of a Volume of Mifcellanies. — Italian Literature. — Contro- 
verfy with Da Ponte. — Charles Brockden Brown. — Blind Afylum. — 
Moliere. — Cervantes. — Scott. — Irving. — Bancroft. — Madame Cal- 
deron. — Hi/lory of Spanifh Literature. — Opinions of Review-writing. 

UST at this time — the winter of 1844-5 — 
Mr. Prefcott made an arrangement with Bentley 
in London for publishing a volume of Mifcella- 
nies, entitled in the Englim edition, " Critical 
and Hiftorical Effays " ; chiefly articles from the 
" North American Review," for which, though 
his contributions had already become rare, and fubfequently 
ceafed altogether, he wrote with fome regularity for many 
years. 

The fubjecls he had difcufled were almoft wholly literary, 
and, having little relation to anything local, political, or per- 
fonal, were likely, on many accounts, to be read with intereft 
in England. He therefore fele6ted a few of his contributions 
as a fpecimen, and fent them to his friend Colonel Afpinwall, 
in London, with a good-humored letter, dated November 15th, 
1 844, in which he fays : — 

As the things are already in print, and ftale enough here, I can't expect the 
London publifhers will give much for them. Poffibly they may not be willing 
to give a farthing. I would not advife them to. But you will probably think 
beft to afk fomething, as I mail ftill have to felecl: and drefs them up a little. 




Miscellanies published. 



But, though I will not infift on a compenfation if I can't get it, I had rather not 
have them publifhed than to have them appear in a form which will not match 
with my other volumes in fize. I would add, that at all events I mould be 
allowed a dozen copies for myfelf. If Bentley, who mould have the preference, 
or Murray, do not think them worth the taking, I would not go farther with the 
trumpery. Only, pray fee that they are returned fafely to your hands to be 
deftroyed. 

Now, I hope this will not put you to much trouble. It is not worth it, and 
I do not intend it. Better accede to any proportion, — as far as profits are 
concerned, they muft be fo trifling, — than be bothered with negotiations. And, 
after all, it may be thought this rechauffe of old bones is not profitable enough to 
make it worth while for a publifher to undertake it at all. If fo, I mall readily 
acquiefce. There will be no labor loft. 

Bentley, however, thought better of the fpeculation than 
the author did, and accepted, with a juft honorarium, the 
whole of what, a few months later, was fent to him. It made 
a handfome oclavo volume, and appeared in the fummer of 
1845 > but there was prefixed to it an engraved portrait, which, 
though great pains were taken to have it a good one, was a 
total failure. 1 The articles were fourteen in number, marking 
very well the courfe of the author's ftudies, taftes, and affocia- 
tions during the preceding twenty years. Some of them had 
coft him no little labor ; all were written with a confcientious 
fidelity not common in fuch contributions to the periodical 
prefs. They were therefore fuccefsful from the fir ft, and 
have continued to be {o. An edition by the Harpers at New 
York appeared contemporaneoufly with Bentley's ; a fecond 
London edition was called for in 1850; and thefe have been 
followed by others both in England and the United States, 
making in all, before the end of i860, a fale of more than 
thirteen thoufand copies. The mifgivings of the author, 
therefore, about his " rechauffe of old bones " were foon dif- 
covered to be groundlefs. 

The firft article in the volume, reckoning by the date of 
its composition, is on " Italian Narrative Poetry," and was 
originally publifhed in the " North American Review " for 



247 



Chap.XVIII. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 



Bentley. 



1 When he fent me a copy of the Eng- 
lifh edition, he faid, in the note accom- 



panying it : " You will recognize every- 
thing in it except the portrait." 



Harpers. 



Ir.ili.m narrative 
poetry. 



2 4 8 



Chap.XVIII, 

1845. 

JEt. 49. 



Politian, Berni 
Bojardo. 



t 



Daponte. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



October, 1824. At that time, or a little earlier, Mr. Prefcott 
had, it will be remembered, occupied himfelf much with the 
literature of Italy, and, among other things, had taken great 
pleafure in liftening to an accomplished Italian, who had read 
parts of Dante, Taffo, Ariofto, and Alfieri, in a fucceffion of 
mornings, to two or three friends who met regularly for the 
purpofe. He was, therefore, in all refpecls, well qualified to 
difcufs any department of Italian literature to which he might 
direct a more efpecial attention. The choice he made on this 
occafion was fortunate ; for narrative poetry is a department in 
which Italian genius has had eminent fuccefs, and his treatment 
of the fubject was no lefs happy than the choice ; efpecially, I 
think, in whatever regarded his judgments on Politian, Berni, 
and Bojardo. 

But excellent and pleafant as was the article in queftion, it 
was not fatisfaclory to a very refpectable Italian, then living 
in the United States, who feems to have been more keenly 
fenfitive to the literary honor of his country than he needed 
to have been. This gentleman, Signor Lorenzo Da Ponte, had 
been the immediate fucceffor of Metaftafio as Imperial Poet — 
Poet a Cefareo — at Vienna, and had early gained much reputa- 
tion by writing to "Don Giovanni" the libretto which Mozart's 
mufic has carried all over the world. But the life of the 
Imperial Poet had fubfequently been fomewhat unhappy ; and, 
after a feries of adventures and misfortunes, which he has 
pleafantly recorded in an autobiography publifhed in 1823, at 
New York, he had become a teacher of his native language 
in that metropolis, where he was defervedly much regarded 
and refpected. 

Signor Da Ponte was an earneft, — it may fairly be faid, — an 
extravagant admirer of the literature of his native country, 
and could ill endure even the very cautious and inconfiderable 
qualifications which Mr. Prefcott had deemed it needful to 
make refpedting fome of its claims in a review otherwife 
overflowing with admiration for Italy and Italian culture. In 
this Signor Da Ponte was no doubt unreafonable, but he had 



Controversy with Daponte. 



not the fmalleft fufpicion that he was io ; and in the fervor of 
his enthufiafm he foon published an anfwer to the review. 
It was, quaintly enough, appended to an Italian tranflation, 
which he was then editing, of the fir ft part of Dodfley's 
" Economy of Human Life," and fills nearly fifty pages. 2 

As a matter almoft of courfe, an anfwer followed, which 
appeared in the "North American Review" for July, 1825, 
and is reprinted in the " Mifcellaneous Works." It treats 
Signor Da Ponte with much refpect, and even kindnefs ; but, 
fo far as it is controverfial. in its character, its tone is firm and 
its fuccefs complete. No reply, I believe, was attempted, nor 
is it eafy to fee how one could have been made. The whole 
affair, in fad:, is now chiefly interefting from the circumftance 
that it is the only literary controverfy, and indeed I may fay, 
the only controverfy of any kind, in which Mr. Prefcott was 
ever engaged, and which, though all fuch difcuffion was foreign 
from his difpofition and temperament, and although he was 
then young, he managed with no little fkill and decifion. 

In the fame volume is another review of Italian Literature, 
publifhed fix years later, 1831, on the "Poetry and Romance 
of the Italians." The curious, who look into it with care, 
may perhaps notice fome repetition of the opinions expreffed 
in the two preceding articles. This is owing to the circum- 
ftance that it was not prepared for the journal in which it 
originally appeared, and in which the others were firft pub- 
lifhed. It was written, as I well remember, in the winter 
of 1827-8, for a leading Englifh periodical, and was gladly 
accepted by its fcholar-like editor, who in a note requefted the 



2 The title-page is, " Economia della 
Vita Humana, tradotta dal Inglefe da L. 
Giudelli, refa alia fua vera lezione da L. 
Da Ponte, con una traduzione del medefimo 
in verfo rimato della Settima Parte, che ha 
per titolo La Religione, con varie lettere dei 
fuoi allievi. E con alcune oflervazioni full' 
articolo quarto, pubblicato nel North Amer- 
ican Review il mefe d'Ottobre 1824, ed 
altre Profe e Poejie." Nuova Yorka, 1825 
32 



(i6mo., pp. 141). This grotefquely com- 
pounded little volume is now become fo 
rare, that, except for the kindnefs of Mr. 
Henry T. Tuckerman, who found it only 
after long fearch, I mould probably now 
have been unable to obtain the ufe of a 
copy of it. I, however, recoiled re 
ing one from the author when it firft 
appeared, and the circumftances attending 
and following its publication. 



249 



Chap.XVIJI. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 

Anfwer to Pref- 
cott. 



Prefcott's re- 
joinder. 



Italian poetry 
and romance. 



250 



Chap.XVIIT 

1845. 

JEt. 49. 



Delay of pub- 
lifning. 



Charles Brock- 
den Brown. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



author to indicate to him the fubjecls on which he might 
be willing to furnifh other articles, in cafe he mould indulge 
himfelf further in the fame ftyle of writing. But, as the 
author did not give permiffion to fend his article to the prefs 
until he mould know the fort of editorial judgment paffed on 
it, it happened that, by a feries of accidents, it was fo long 
before he heard of its acceptance, that, getting wearied with 
waiting, he fent for the paper back from London, and gave it 
to the " North American Review." Mr. Prefcott adverts to 
thefe coincidences of opinion in a note to the article itfelf, 
as reprinted in the " Mifcellanies," but does not explain the 
reafon for them. 

The other articles in the fame volume are generally of not 
lefs intereft and value than the three already noticed. Some 
of them are of more. There is, for inftance, a pleafant " Life 
of Charles Brockden Brown," our American novelift, in which, 
perhaps, his merits are overftated. At leaft, the author after- 
wards thought fo himfelf; but the tafk was voluntarily under- 
taken as a contribution to the collection of biographies by 
his friend Mr. Sparks, in 1834, and he felt that it would be 
fomewhat ungracious to fay, under fuch circumftances, all he 
might otherwife have deemed becoming. No doubt, too, he 
thought that Brown, who died in 1810, and was the beft of the 
pioneers in romantic fiction on this fide of the Atlantic, had 
a claim to tendernefs of treatment, both from the difficult 
circumftances in which he had been placed, and from the 
infirmities which had carried him to an early grave. It mould, 
however, be underftood, while making thefe qualifications, that 
the Life itfelf is written with freedom and fpirit, and mows 
how well its author was fitted for fuch critical difcufiions. 

Another article, which interefted him more, is on the con- 
dition of thofe who fuffer from the calamity which conftituted 
the great trial of his own life, and on the alleviations which 
public benevolence could afford to their misfortunes. I refer, 
of courfe, to the blind. 

In 1829, by the exertions mainly of the late excellent Dr. 



Asylum for the Blind. 



251 



JEt. 49. 



Dr. John D. 
Fiflier. 



Dr. Samuel G. 
Howe. 



John D. Fifher, an " Afylum for the Blind," now known as Chap.xVITI 
"The Perkins Inftitution," was eftablifhed in Bofton, — the! 1845. 
earlieft of fuch beneficent inftitutions that have proved fuccefsful 
in the United States, and now one of the moft advanced in the 
world. It at once attracted Mr. Prefcott's attention, and from 
its firft organization, in 1830, he was one of its truftees, and 
among its moft efficient friends and fupporters. 3 

He began his active fervices by a paper publifhed in the 
"North American Review" in July, 1830, explaining the 
nature of fuch afylums, and urging the claims of the one in 
which he was interefted. His earneftnefs was not without 
fruits ; and the inftitution which he helped with all his heart 
to found is the fame in which, under the Angularly fuccefsful 
leading of Dr. Samuel G. Howe, a fyftem has been devifed for 
printing books {o as to enable the blind to read with an eafe 
before deemed unattainable, and is the fame inftitution in 
which, under the fame leading, the marvel has been accom- 
plished of giving much intellectual culture to Laura Bridgman, j Laura Bridgman 
who, wholly without either fight or hearing, has hardly more 
than the fenfe of touch as an inlet to knowledge. Mr. Pref- 
cott's fympathy for fuch an inftitution, fo founded, {o managed, 
was necefiarily ftrong, and he continued to ferve it with fidelity 
and zeal as a truftee for ten years, when, its fuccefs being 
affured, and other duties claiming his time and thoughts more 
urgently, he refigned his place. 

Some parts of the article originally publifhed in the " North 
American Review," in order to give to the Bofton Afylum for 
the Blind its proper pofition before the public, are fo obviouily 
the refult of his perfonal experience, that they mould be 
remembered as expreffions of his perfonal character. Thus, 



J A fubftantial foundation for this ex- 
cellent charity was laid fomewhat later 
by Colonel Thomas H. Perkins, fo well 
known for his munificence to many of our 
public inftitutions. He gave to it an eftate 
in Pearl Street, valued at thirty thoufand 
dollars, on condition that an equal fum 
mould be railed by fubfcription from the 



community. This was done ; and the 
inftitution bears in confequence his hon- 
ored name. In the arrangements for this 
purpofe Mr. Prefcott took much interell, 
and bore an important part, not only as a 
truftee of the "Afylum," but as a perfonal 
friend of Colonel Perkins. 



252 



Chap.XVIII. 

1845. 

JEt. 49. 



Concentrated 
attention of 
the blind. 



Improves mem- 
ory. 



Power from 
blindnefs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



■in the midft of ftriking reflections and illuftrations connected 
with his general fubject, he fays : — 

The blind, from the cheerful ways of men cut off, are neceflarily excluded 
from the bufy theatre of human action. Their infirmity, however, which con- 
figns them to darknefs, and often to folitude, would feem favorable to contem- 
plative habits, and the purfuits of abftracl: fcience and pure fpeculation. Un- 
dift urbed by external objects, the mind necefTarily turns within, and concentrates 
its ideas on any point of inveftigation with greater intenfity and perfeverance. 
It is no uncommon thing, therefore, to find perfons fitting apart in the filent 
hours of evening for the purpofe of compofition, or other purely intellectual 
exercife. Malebranche, when he wifhed to think intenfely, ufed to clofe his 
mutters in the daytime, excluding every ray of light ; and hence Democritus 
is faid to have put out his eyes in order that he might philofophize the better ; 
a ftory, the veracity4 of which Cicero, who relates it, is prudent enough not to 
vouch for. 

Blindnefs muft alfo be exceedingly favorable to the difcipline of the memory. 
Whoever has had the misfortune, from any derangement of that organ, to be 
compelled to derive his knowledge of books lefs from the eye than the ear, will 
feel the truth of this. The difficulty of recalling what has once efcaped, of 
reverting to or dwelling on the paflages read aloud by another, compels the 
hearer to give undivided attention to the fubje6t, and to imprefs it more forcibly 
on his own mind by fubfequent and methodical reflection. Inftances of the 
cultivation of this faculty to an extraordinary extent have been witneffed among 
the blind. 5 

And, near the end of the article, he fays, in a noble tone, 
evidently confcious of its application to himfelf: — 

There is no higher evidence of the worth of the human mind, than 
its capacity of drawing confolation from its own refources under fo heavy 
a privation, fo that it not only can exhibit refignation and cheerfulnefs, but 
energy to burft the fetters with which it is encumbered. 6 

Thefe words, it fhould be remembered, were written at the 
moment when their author was juft ftretching forth his hand, 
not without much anxiety, to begin the compofition of his 



4 Addifon fo ufes the word, and I fup- 
pofe his authority is fufficient. But veraci- 
ty is ftri&ly applicable only to a perfon, 
and not to a ftatement of facts. 

5 Critical and Hiflorical Effays, Lon- 
don, 1850, pp. 40, 41. 

6 Ibid., p. 59. There are alfo fome 



ftriking remarks, in the fame tone, and 
almoft equally applicable to himfelf, in 
his notice of Sir Walter Scott's power to 
refill pain and difeafe, with the difcourage- 
ments that necefTarily accompany them. 
Ibid., pp. 144, 145. 



Reviews. 



" Ferdinand and Isabella," of which the world knew nothing 
and fufpedted nothing for nearly ten years. But the words, 
which had little meaning to others at that time, are inftincl: 
with the fpirit which in filence and darknefs animated him to 
his bold undertaking, and not only carried him through it, but 
gave to the reft of his life its direction and character. 7 

The other articles in this volume, published in 1845, ^ 
need to be considered. One is a fhort difcuffion on Scottifh 
popular poetry, written as early as the winter of 1825-6, and 
publifhed in the following fummer, when he was already bufy 
with the ftudy of Spanifh, and therefore naturally compared 
the ballads of the two countries. 8 Another is on Moliere, dating 
from 1828, and was the caufe of directing his thoughts, ten 
years later, while he was uncertain about his fuccefs as an hif- 
torian, to inquiries into the life of that great poet. 9 A third 
is on Cervantes, and was written as an amufement in 1837, 
immediately after the "Ferdinand and Ifabella" was completed, 
and before it was publifhed. And a fourth and fifth, on Lock- 
hart's Life of Scott and on Chateaubriand, followed foon 
afterwards, before he had been able to fettle himfelf down to 
regular work on his " Conqueft of Mexico." 

A few others he wrote, in part at leaft, from regard for 
the authors of the books to which they relate. Such were a 
notice of Irving's " Conqueft of Granada " ; IO a review of the 
third volume of Bancroft's " Hiftory of the United States " ; 
one of Madame Calderon's very agreeable "Travels in Mexico," 
which he had already ufhered into the world with a Preface ; 
and one on my own " Hiftory of Spanifh Literature." This 
laft, which was publifhed in January, 1850, and which, there- 
fore, is not included in the earlieft edition of the " Mifcella- 



253 



Chap.XVIII. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 



Scottifh popular 
poetry. 



Moliere. 



Cervantes. 



Scott. 



7 I think he took pleafure, for the fame 
reafon, in recording (Article on Moliere) 
that " a gentleman dined at the fame table 
with Corneille for fix months, without 
fufpefting the author of the Cid." 

8 Critical Effays, pp. 55 fqq. 

9 Ibid., pp. 247 fqq. 



10 It may be worth notice here, that, 
in the opening of this review, written in 
1829, Mr. Prefcott difcufles the qualifica- 
tions demanded of an hiilorian, and the 
merits of fome of the principal w riters in 
this department of literature. 



Irving. 



Madame Cal- 
dcron. 

Hiftory ot Span- 
iili Literature. 



254 



Chap.XVIII. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 



Why he wrote 
reviews. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



nies," was the only review he had written for feven years. 
His record in relation to it is ftriking : — 

October 25th, 1849. — Leave Pepperell to-morrow; a very pleafant autumn 
and a bufy one. Have read for and written an article in the " North American 
Review " on my friend Ticknor's great work ; my laft effort in the critical line, 
amounting to forty-nine meets noc~tograph ! The writing began the 12th, and 
ended the 21ft of -the month ; not bad as to induftry. No matter how often I 
have reviewed the ground, I muft ftill review it again whenever I am to write, — 
when I fit down to the tafk. 11 Now, Mufe of Hiftory, never more will I defert 
thy altar ! Yet I mall have but little incenfe to offer. 



He 



never 



right. He began, when 
after the failure of the 
upon literary fubjecls of 



This promife to himfelf was faithfully kept 
wrote another article for a review. 

In this, I do not doubt, he was 
he was quite young, immediately 
" Club-Room, " and wrote reviews 

confequence, as an exercife well fitted to the general courfe 
of ftudies he had undertaken, and as tending directly to the 
refults he hoped at laft to reach. It was, he thought, a healthy 
and pleafant excitement to literary activity, and an obvious 
means of forming and tefting his ftyle. For twelve years, 
therefore, beginning in 1821, he contributed annually an 
article to the " North American Review." At one time he 
thought of writing occafionally, from the fame motives, for 
the more eminent Englifh periodicals ; but from this he was 
diverted partly by accident, but chiefly by labors more impor- 
tant and prefting. Indeed, from 1833, when he was in the 
midft of his "Ferdinand and Ifabella," to 1837, when its 
compofition was completed, he found no time for fuch lighter 
occupations; and, during the laft fix and twenty years of his life, 
his contributions were only eight, nearly all of which were un- 
dertaken from motives different from thofe that had prompted 
his earlier efforts. As far as he himfelf was concerned, review- 
writing had done its work, and he was better employed. 12 

11 This is among the many proofs of miftakes, he preferred to go over the print- 

his confcientious care in writing. He had ed book, now that he was to review it. 
read my manufcript, and had made ample IZ Even before the publication of the 

notes on it ; but ftill, left he fhould make " Ferdinand and Ifabella " he had begun 



Review- Writing. 



255 



to fee the little value of American Reviews. 
This is plain from the following extraft from 
a letter difcovered fmce this memoir was 
finifhed, and dated October 4, 1837. It 
was addreffed from Pepperell by Mr. Pref- 
cott to his friend, Mr. Gardiner, in Bofton. 

"The laft number of the 'North Amer- 
ican ' has found its way into our woods. 
I have only glanced at it, but it looks un- 
commonly weak and waterifh. The re- 
view of Mifs Martineau, which is meant 
to be double-fpiced, is no exception. I 
don't know how it is ; but our critics, 
though not pedantic, have not the bufinefs- 
like air, or the air of the man of the world, 
which gives manlinefs and fignificance to 
criticifm. Their fatire, when they at- 
tempt it, — which cannot be often laid to 
their door, — has neither the fine edge of 
the 'Edinburgh,' nor the Hedge-hammer 
ftroke of the ' Quarterly.' They twaddle 
out their humor as if they were afraid of 
its biting too hard, or elfe they deliver 
axioms with a fort of fmart, dapper con- 
ceit, like a little parfon laying down the 
law to his little people. 1 fuppofe the 



paltry price the ' North ' pays (all it can 
bear, too, I believe) will not command 
the variety of contributions, and from the 
higheil fources, as with the Englifh jour- 
nals. Then, in England, there is a far 
greater number of men highly cultivated, 

— whether in public life or men of leifure, 

— whofe intimacy with afFairs and with 
fociety, as well as books, affords fupplies 
of a high order for periodical criticifm. 
For a' that, however, the old * North ' is 
the beft periodical we have ever had, or, 
confidering its refources, are likely to have, 
for the prefent." 

»3 Mr. Prefcott's articles in the "North 
American Review " are as follows, thofe 
marked with an afterifk (*) conftituting, 
together with the Life of Charles Brock- 
den Brown, the volume publifhed in Lon- 
don with the title of " Critical and Hif- 
torical Eflays," and in the United States 
with that of " Biographical and Critical 
Mifcellanies " : — 

1 821. Byron's Letters on Pope. 

1822. Eifav- Writing. 

1823. French and Englifh Tragedy. 



Why he gave 
up writing 
them. 



But, befides his own engroffing occupations, he had another Chap.XVIII 
reafon for abandoning the habit of criticising the works of 1845. 
others. He had come to the conclufion that this form of ^ T - 49- 
literary labor is all but worthlefs. In his review of the Life 
of Scott, he had noticed how little of principle is mingled 
with it, and in his memoranda five years later, when his own 
experiences of it had become abundant, he fays : " Criticifm 
has got to be an old ftory. It is impoflible for one who has 
done that fort of work himfelf to have any refpeel; for it. 
How can one critic look another in the face without laughing ? " 
He therefore gave it up, believing neither in its fairnefs, nor 
in its beneficial effect on authors or readers. Sir James Mack- 
intosh, after long experience of the fame fort, came to the 
conclufion that review-writing was a wafte of time, and advifed 
Mr. Tytler, the hiftorian, who had occafionally fent an article 
to the "Edinburgh," to abandon the practice; 13 and in the fame 



Sir James 
Mackintofh. 



Tytler. 



256 



Chap.XVIII. 

1845. 
^Et. 49. 

De Tocqueville. 



L_ 



William Hickling Prescott. 



fpirit, De Tocqueville, writing at the end of his life, faid, fome- 
what triumphantly: "Je n'ai jamais fait de ma vie un article 
de revue." I doubt not they were all right, and that fociety, 
as it advances, will more and more juftify their judgment. 



1824. Italian Narrative Poetry.* 

1825. Daponte's Obfervations.* 

1826. Scottiih Song.* 

1827. Novel- Writing. 

1828. Moliere.* 

1829. Irving's Granada.* 

1830. Afylum for the Blind.* 

1 83 1. Poetry and Romance of the Ital- 
ians.* 

1832. Englifh Literature of the Nine- 
teenth Century. 

1837. Cervantes.* 

1838. Lockhart's Life of Scott.* 

1839. Kenyon's Poems. 
1839. Chateaubriand, 



1 841. Bancroft's United States.* 

1842. Mariotti's Italy. 

1843. Madame Calderon's Mexico.* 
1850. Ticknor's Spanifh Literature.* 

At one period, rather early, he wrote 
a confiderable number of fhort articles for 
fome of our newfpapers ; and even in the 
latter part of his life occaiionally adopted 
this mode of communicating his opinions 
to the public. But he did not wifh to 
have them remembered. " This fort of 
ephemeral trafh," he faid, when recording 
his judgment of it, " had better be forgot- 
ten by me as foon as poffible." 




257 




CHAPTER XIX. 

1845-1848. 

His Domeftic Relations. — cc Conqueji of Peru.'" — Pepper ell. — Letters. — 
Removal in Bofton. — Difficulties. — Fiftieth Birthday. — Puhlijhes the 
" Conqueji of Peru." — Doubts. — Succefs. — Memoranda. — <c Edin- 
Review." — Life at Pepper ell. — Letter from Mifs Edgeworth. 



N the 4th of May, 1845, Mr. Prefcott made, Chap - xix - 
with his own hand, what is very rare in his 184,-. 
memoranda, a notice of his perfonal feelings ^r. 49. 
and domeftic relations. It is fimple, touching, 
true : and I recollecf that he read it to me 
QfiJ^T^^t^ a few days afterwards with the earned: tender- 
ness which had dictated it. 

"My forty-ninth birthday," he fays, "and my twenty-fifth wedding-day; Domeftic rela- 
a quarter of a century the one, and nearly half a century the other. An Englifh 
notice of me laft month fpeaks of me as being on the funny fide of thirty-live. 

33 




258 



Chap. XIX. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 

Happy life. 



Happinefs in 
ftudies. 



Conqueft of 
Peru." 



Rapid writing. 



Forfeit. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



My life has been pretty much on the funny fide, for which I am indebted to a 
fingularly fortunate pofition in life ; to ineftimable parents, who both, until 
a few months fince, were preferved to me in health of mind and body ; a wife, 
who has fhared my few troubles real and imaginary, and my many bleilirigs, with 
the fympathy of another felf ; a cheerful temper, in fpite of fome drawbacks on 
the fcore of health ; and eafy circumftances, which have enabled me to confult 
my own inclinations in the direction and the amount of my ftudies. Family, 
friends, fortune, — thefe have furnifhed me materials for enjoyment greater and 
more conftant than is granted to moft men. Laftly, I muft not omit my books ; 
the love of letters, which I have always cultivated and which has proved my 
folace — invariable folace — under afflictions mental and bodily, — and of both 
I have had my fhare, — and which have given me the means of living for others 
than myfelf, — of living, I may hope, when my own generation mall have patted 
away. If what I have done fhall be permitted to go down to after times, and 
my foul fhall be permitted to mingle with thofe of the wife and good of future 
generations, I have not lived in vain. I have many intimations that I am now 
getting on the fhady fide of the hill, and as I go down, the fhadows will grow 
longer and darker. May the dear companion who has accompanied me thus 
far be permitted to go with me to the clofe, ' till we fleep together at the foot ' 
as tranquilly as we have lived." 

Immediately after this entry occurs one entirely different, 
and yet not lefs characleriftic. It relates to the early chapters 
of his "Conqueft of Peru," which, it will be remembered, he 
had begun fome months before, and in which he had been fo 
fadly interrupted by the death of his father. 

May nth, 1845. Finifhed writing — not corrected yet, from fecretary's ill— 
nefs — Chapters I. and II. of narrative, text. On my nomograph thefe two chap- 
ters make juft twenty-nine fheets, which will fcarcely come to lefs than thirty- 
eight pages print. But we fhall fee, when the copy, by which I can alone fafely 
eftimate, is made. I began compofition Wednefday ; finifhed Saturday noon ; 
about three days, or more than twelve pages print per diem. I never did fo 
much, I think, before, in the fame time, though I have done more in a fingle 
day. At this rate, I mould work up the " Peru " — the two volumes — in 
juft about two months. Lord, deliver me ! What a fruitful author I might 
become were I fo felonioufly intent [ Felo de fe, it would be more than all 
others. 

I have great doubts about the quality of this fame homefpun that has run off 
fo rapidly. I never found it fo hard to come to the Jiar ting-point. The firji chapter 
was a perfectly painful tafk, as painful as I ever performed at fchool. 1 I fhould 
not have fcraped over it in a month, but I bound myfelf by a forfeit againft 
time. Not a bad way (Mem?) to force things out, that might otherwife rot from 

1 This is the firft chapter and is on the civilization of the Incas. 



Summer at Pepperell. 



259 



Chap. XIX. 



18. 
JEt. 

Pizarro. 



V 
49. 



of content- 
ment. 



ftagnation. A good way enough for narrative, which requires only a little top- 
dreffing. But for the philofophy and all that of hiftory, one rauft delve deeper, 
and I query the policy of hafte. It is among poffibilities that I may have to 
rewrite faid firft chapter, which is of the generalizing caft. The fecond, being 
direct narrative, was pleafant work to me, and as good, I fuppofe, as the raw 
material will allow. It is not cloth of gold bv a long mot ! A hero that can't 
read ! I muft look at fome popular ftories of highwaymen. 

May 1 8th, 1845. The two chapters required a good deal of correction ; yet, 
on the whole, read pretty well. I now find that it only needed a little courage 
at the outfet to break the ice which had formed over my ideas, and the current 
fet loofe runs on naturally enough. I feel a return of my old literary intereft ; 
am fatisfied that this is the fecret of contentment, of happinefs, for me ; Labor the fecret 
happinefs enough for any one in the palling [day] and the reflection. I have 
written this week the few notes to be hitched on here and there. They will be 
few and far between in this work. The Spanilh quotations corroborative of the 
text muft be more frequent. 

The fummer of 1845 ne palTed entirely at Pepperell; the firft Pe PP ereii. 
he had fo fpent for many years. It was, on the whole, a moft 
agreeable and falutary one. The earlieft weeks of the feafon 
were, indeed, faddened by recollections of his father, peculiarly 
afTociated with everything about him on that fpot where from 
his infancy their intercourfe had been more free and unbroken 
than it could be amidft the bufinefs and cares of the town. 
The mingled feelings of pleafure and fadnefs which fcenes and 
memories like thefe awakened are, I think, very naturally and 
gracefully expreffed in a letter, addreffed to Mrs. Ticknor, at 
Genefeo, New York, where we were pafting the fummer for 
her health, in frequent intercourfe with the cultivated family 
of the Wadfworths, to which our friend alludes among the 
pleafures of our condition. 



Pepperell, June 19, 1845. 

My dear Anna, 

I took a letter out of the pott-office laft evening which gladdened my eyes, 
as I recognized the hand of a dear friend ; and now take the firft return of day- 
light to anfwer it, and, as you fee, with my own hand, though this will delaj it ; 
for I cannot truft my broken-down nags to a long heat. 

I am rejoiced to hear that you are fituatfd fo much to your mind. Fine < 
fcenery, with the rural quiet broken only by agreeable intercourfe with two 
or three polifhed families ; pleafant drives- books; the laft novel that is good 



260 



Chap. XIX. 

1845. 
Mt. 49. 



Dyfpepfia. 

Life in the 
country. 



" Conqueft of 
Peru." 



Memories of his 
father. 



Old home. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



for anything, and, of courfe, not very new ; old books, old friends, and moft 
of thefe at correfponding dijiances; — what could one defire more for the fummer, 
except, indeed, not to be baked alive with the heat, and a ftomach not befet by 
the foul fiend Dyfpepfia, abhorred by gods and men, who has laid me on my 
back more than one day here ? But we mould not croak or be ungrateful. 
And yet, when the horn is filled with plenty, it is apt to make the heart hard. 

We lead a very rational way of life. A morning ride among thefe green 
lanes, never fo green as in the merry month of June, when the whole natural 
world feems to be juft turned out of the Creator's hand ; a walk at noon, under 
the broad fhades that the hands of my father prepared for me ; a drive at 
evening, with Will or the Judge 2 officiating in the faddle as fquire of dames to 

Mifs B or to Mifs C , who happens to be on a visit here at present ; 

the good old ftand-by, Sir Walter, to bring up the evening. Nor muft I omit the 
grateful fumes of the fegar to help digeftion under the fpreading branches of the 
old oilnut-trees. So wags the day. " How happily the hours of Thalaba went 
by ! " I try between-whiles to pick fome grains of gold out of the Andes. 
I hope the manufacture will not turn out mere copper-wafh. 

June 20. 

Another day has flitted by, and with it my wife has flitted alfo ; gone to town 
for a cook. O the joys, the pains of houfekeeping ! The " neat-handed 
Phyllis " who prepares our favory mefTes is in love, and fancies herfelf home- 
fick. So here I am monarch of all I furvey, — a melancholy monarchy ! The 
country never looked fo charming to my eyes \ the fields were never fpread with 
a richer green ; the trees never feemed fo flourifhing ; the ftreams never rolled 
fuller or brighter ; and the mountain background fills up the landfcape more 
magnificently than ever. But it is all in mourning for me. How can it be 
otherwife ? Is it not full of the moft tender and faddening recollections ? 
Everything here whifpers to me of him; the trees that he planted ; the hawthorn 
hedges ; the fields of grain as he planned them laft year ; every occupation, — the 
rides, the rambles, the focial after-dinner talks, the evening novel, — all fpeak 
to me of the friend, the father, with whom I have enjoyed them from childhoods 
I have good bairns, as good as fall to the lot of moft men ; a wife, whom 
a quarter of a century of love has made my better half; but the fweet fountain 
of intellectual wifdom of which I have drunk from boyhood is fealed to 
me forever. One bright fpot in life has become dark, — dark for this world, 
and for the future how doubtful ! 

I endeavor to keep everything about me as it ufed to be in the good old time. 



2 It was cuftomarv, in the affectionate 
intercourfe of Mr. Prefcott's family, to 
call the eldeft fori fometimes Will and 
fometimes " the Colonel," becaufe his 
great-grandfather, of Bunker Hill mem- 
ory, had been a Colonel ; but the youngeft 
fon, who was much of a pet, was almoit 



always called " the Judge," from the office 
once held by his grandfather. The hif- 
torian himfelf long wore the fobriquet of 
" the Colonel," which Dr. Gardiner gave 
him in his fchoolboy days, and it was now 
handed down to another generation by 
himfelf. 



Life in the Country. 



261 



!8 45 . 

JEt. 49. 



But the fpirit which informed it all, and gave it its fweeteft grace, is fled. I have Chap. XIX. 
lead about the heart-ftrings, fuch as I never had there before. Yet I never 
loved the fpot half fo well. 

I am glad to hear that George is drinking of the old Caftilian fount again, fo 
much at his leifure. I dare fay, he will get fome good draughts at it in the quiet 
of Genefeo. I mould like to break in on him and you fome day. Qui en fab e ? 
as they fay in the land of the hidalgo. If I am obliged to take a journev, I mall 
fet my horfes that way. But I mail abide here, if I can, till late in October. 

Pray tell your old gentleman, that I have had letters from the Harpers Mifcellanies 
expreiling their furprife at an advertifement thev had feen of a volume of " Mif- 
cellanies, Biographical and Critical," in the London papers, and that this had led 
to an exchange of notes, which will terminate doubtlefs in the republication of 
the faid work here, in the fame ftyle with its historical predeceffors. 

My mother has not been with us yet. She is conducting the great bufinefs 
of tranfmigration, and we get letters from her every other day. The davs of the j Home in Bedford 
auld manfe are almoft numbered. 3 

The children fend love to vou and Anika. Elizabeth fays fhe fhall write to 
you foon. Pray remember me to your caro fpofo, and believe me always 
Moft truly and affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



But, notwithftanding the difcouragements fuggefted in the 
preceding letter, his work went on well in the country. His 
habits were as regular as the moft perfect control of his own 
time could enable him to make them, and the amount of 
exercife he took was more than ufual ; for the heats of the 
interior, fo much greater than anything of the fort to which 
he had been accuftomed on the fea-coaft, had made the aifaults 
of his old enemy, the dyfpepfia, more active than ever, and had 
compelled him to be more than ever in the open air. He 
rofe, as he always did, early, and, unlefs prevented by rain, got 
an hour and a half in the faddle before breakfaft. At noon he 
walked half an hour in the (hade of his own trees, and towards 
evening drove an hour and a half, commonly flopping (o as to 
lounge for a mile or two on foot in fome favorite woodland. 
In this way he went through the fummer without any very 
fevere attack, and did more work than ufual. 4 One remit of it, 



3 They were then removing from Bed- 4 He records, for inftance, that he wrote 

ford Street to Beacon Street, and the old in June two chapters, one of twenty-five, 

houfe in Bedford Street was about to be and the other of twenty-fix printed pages, 

pulled down. in four days, adding: " I never did up lo 



Dyipepfia. 

Habits in the 
country. 



262 



Chap. XIX. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 



Home in Beacon 
Street. 



Troubles of 
moving. 



Anniverfary of 
his father's 
death. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



however, was, that he became more than ever enamored of his 
country life, and hoped that he mould be able to enjoy it for at 
leaft fix months in every year. But he never did. Indeed, he 
was never at Pepperell afterwards as long, in any one fummer, 
as he was during this one. 

On reaching town, he eftablifhed himfelf at once in a houfe 
he had bought in Beacon Street, overlooking the fine open 
ground of the Mall and the old Common. The purchafe had 
been made in the preceding fpring, when, during the adjuft- 
ment of his father's affairs, he determined on a change of 
refidence, as both ufeful and pleafant. He did not, however, 
leave the old houfe in Bedford Street without a natural regret. 
When he was making his firft. arrangements for it, he faid, 
" It will remove me from my old haunts and the fcenes of 
many a happy and fome few fad hours. May my deftinies 
be as fortunate in my new refidence!" 

The procefs of fettlement in his new houfe, from which he 
expected no little difcomfort, was yet more difagreeable than 
he had anticipated. He called it, "a month of Pandemonium; 
an unfurnifhed houfe coming to order; parlors without furni- 
ture ; a library without books ; books without time to open 
them. Old faces, new faces, but not the fweet face of Nature." 

Early in December, however, the removal was complete ; 
the library-room, which he had built, was filled with his 
books ; a room over it was fecured for quiet ftudy, and his 
regular work was begun. The firft entry in his memoranda 
after this revolution was one on the completion of a year from 
his father's death. " How rapidly," he fays, " has it flitted. 
How foon will the little [remaining] fpace be over for me and 
mine! His death has given me a new pofition in life, — a new 
way of life altogether, — and a different view of it from what 
I had before. I have many, many bleffings left ; family, 
friends, fortune. May I be fenfible of them, and may I fo live 
that I may be permitted to join him again in the long hereafter." 



much yarn in the fame time. At this 
rate, Peru would not hold out fix months. 



Can I finifh it in a year ? 
reader ! " 



Alas for the 



Trouble in his Rye. 



263 



Wager. 



Materials for 
work. 



He was now in earneft about the " Conqueft of Peru," and Chap - xix - 
determined to finifh it by the end of December, 1846. But I 1845. 
he found it very difficult to begin his work afrefh. He there- ^t. 49. 
fore, in his private memoranda, appealed to his own confcience „ Con ueftof 
in every way he could, by exhortation and rebuke, io as to | p^u." 
ftimulate his flagging induftry. He even reforted to his old 
expedient of a moneyed wager. At laft, after above a month, 
he fucceeded. A little later, he was induftrious to his heart's 
content, and obtained an impulfe which carried him well 
onward. 

His collection of materials for the "Hiftory of the Conqueft 
of Peru " he found to be more complete even than that for the 
correfponding period in Mexico. The characters, too, that 
were to ftand in the foreground of his fcene, turned out more 
interefting and important than he had anticipated, and fo did 
the prominent points of his action and ftory. No doubt the 
fubjecl: itfelf, confidered as a whole, was lefs grave and grand 
than that of the " Conqueft of Mexico," but it was ample 
enough and interefting enough for the two volumes he had 
devoted to it; and, from the beginning of the year 1846, 
he went on his courfe with cheerfulnefs and fpirit. 

Once, indeed, he was interrupted. In March he " ftrained," 
as he was wont to defcribe fuch an accefs of trouble, the nerve 
of the eye feverely. "Heaven knows how," he fays, "probably 
by manufcript digging; and the laft fortnight, ever fince March 
10th, I have not read or written, in all, five minutes on my 
Hiftory, nor ten minutes on anything elfe. My notes have 
fince been written by ear-work ; fnail-like progrefs. I mull 
not ufe my eye for reading nor writing a word again, till 
reftored. When will that be ? Eheu ! pazienza ! " 

It was a long time before he recovered any tolerable ufe of 
his fight ; — never fuch as he had enjoyed during a large part 
of the time when he was preparing the " Conqueft of Mexico." 
On the 4th of May, 1846, he records: — 

My fiftieth birthday ; a half-centurv ! This is getting on with a vengeance. 
It is one of thofe frightful halting-places in a man's life, that may make him 



Strain of the eye 



Fiftieth birth- 
day. 



264 



Chap. XIX. 



JEt. 50. 



Vifit to Wafh- 
ington. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Advice of an 
oculift. 



Bad condition of 
the eye. 



reflect a little. But half a century is too long a road to be looked over in half 
an hour ; fo I will defer it — till when ? But what have I done the laft year ? 
Not miilpent much of it. The firft eleven months, from April 26th, 1845, to 
March 26th, 1846, I wrote five hundred and twenty pages text and notes of my 
" Conqueft of Peru." The quantity is fufficient, and, in the fummer efpecially, 
my induftry was at fever-heat. But I fear I have pufhed the matter indifcreetly. 
My laft entry records a ftrain of the nerve, and my eye continued in fo dif- 
abled a ftate that, to give it a refpite and recruit my ftrength, I made a journey 
to Wafhington. I fpent nearly a week there, and another at New York on my 
return, which, with a third on the road, took up three weeks. I was provided 
with a very agreeable fellow-traveller in my excellent friend, Charles Sumner. 
The excurfion has done me fenfible benefit, both bodily and mental. I faw 
much that interefted me in Wafhington ; made many acquaintances that I recol- 
lect with pleafure ; and in New York I experienced the fame hearty hofpitality 

that I have always found there I put myfelf under Dr. Elliott's hands, 

and his local applications to the eye were of confiderable advantage to me. 
The application of thefe remedies, which I continue to ufe, has done much to 
reftore the morbid circulation, and I have hope that, with a temperate ufe of the 
eye, I may ftill find it in order for going on with my literary labors. But I have 
fymptoms of its decay not to be miftaken or difregarded. I (hall not afpire to 
more than three hours' ufe of it in any day, and for the reft I muft facit 
per alium.S This will retard my progrefs ; but I have time enough, being only 
half a century old ; and why fhould I prefs ? 

But in thefe hopes he foon found himfelf difappointed. He 
with difficulty ftrengthened his fight fo far that he was able to 
ufe his eye half an hour a day, and even this modicum foon fell 
back to ten minutes. He was naturally much difheartened by 
it. "It takes the ftrength out of me," he faid. 

But it did not take out the courage. He was abftinent from 
work, and careful; he ufed the remedies appointed; and econo- 
mized his refources of all kind as well as he could. The hot 
weeks of the feafon, beginning June 25th, except a pleafant 



5 Qui facit per alium, facit per se. A 
pun made originally by Mr. T. Bigelow, 
a diftinguifhed lawyer of this neighbor- 
hood, who was at one time Speaker of the 
Houfe of Reprefentatives, and otherwife 
much connected with the governmeni of 
the Commonwealth. The pleafantry in 
queftion may be found happily recorded 
at p. no of a little volume of " Mifcel- 
lanies," publifhed in 1821, by Mr. Wil- 



liam Tudor, a mofl agreeable and accom- 
plifhed perfon, who died as our Charge \ 
d y Affaires in Brazil. Mr. Bigelow, ftill | 
remembered by a few of us, as he was j 
in Mr. Tudor's time, for " his ftores of 
humor and anecdote," was the father of 
Mrs. Abbott Lawrence, and the grand- 
father of Mr. James Lawrence, who, as 
elfewhere noted, married the only daugh- 
ter of Mr. Prefcott the hiftorian. 



Finishes " Conquest of Peru." 



26 



Finifhes " Con- 
queftof Peru.' 



excurfion to Albany, in order to be present at the marriage ; Chap - xix 
of Mifs Van Renffelaer and his friend, Mr. N. Thayer, 1846. 
were paffed at Nahant, and he found, as he believed, benefit | -^ T - 5°- 
to his eye, and his dyfpepfia, from the fea-air, although it was vifit to Alban 
rude in itfelf and full of rheumatifm. He was even able, by 
perhaps a rather too free ufe of the active remedies given him, 
to read fometimes two hours a day, though rarely more than 
one and a half; but he was obliged to divide this indulgence 
into feveral minute portions, and feparate them by confiderable 
intervals of repofe. 

The reft of the feafon, which he paffed at Pepperell, was 
equally favorable to effort and induftry. His laft chapter — 
the beautiful one on the latter part of Gafca's healing adminif- 
tration of the affairs of Peru, and the character of that wife and 
beneficent ftatefman — was finifhed in a morning's gallop 
through the woods, which were then, at the end of October, 
fhedding their many-colored honors on his head. The laft 
notes were completed a little later, November 7th, making juft 
about two years and three months for the two volumes. But 
he feems to have pufhed his work fomewhat indifcreetly at laft, 
for, when he clofed it, the refources of his fight were again 
confiderably diminifhed. 

The compofition of the " Conqueft of Peru " was, therefore, 
finilhed within the time he had fet for it a year previoufly, 
and, the work being put to prefs without delay, the printing 
was completed in the latter part of March, 1847; about two 
years and nine months from the day when he firft put pen to 
paper. It made juft a thoufand pages, exclufive of the Appen- 
dix, and was ftereotyped under the careful correction and fuper- 
vifion of his friend, Mr. Folfom, of Cambridge. 

While it was pafling through the prefs, or juft as the ftereo- 
typing was fairly begun, he made a contract with the Merits. 
Harper to pay for feven thoufand five hundred copies on the 
day of publication at the rate of one dollar per copy, to be fold 
within two years, and to continue to publifh at the fame rate 
afterwards, or to furrender the contract to the author at his 
34- 



Prints it. 



Publiflied by the 

U.11 pCT8, New 

York. 



266 



Chap. XIX. 

1847. 
JEt. 50. 

By Bentley,Lon- 
don. 



Mifgivings of 
the author. 



Entire fuccefs of 
the work. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



pleafure ; terms, I fuppofe, more liberal than had ever been 
offered for a work of grave hiftory on this fide of the Atlantic. 
In London it was published by Mr. Bentley, who purchafed 
the copyright for eight hundred pounds, under the kind aufpi- 
ces of Colonel Afpinwall ; again a large fum, as it was already 
doubtful whether an exclufive privilege could be legally main- 
tained in Great Britain by a foreigner. 

An author rarely or never comes to the front of the Stage 
and makes his bow to the public without fome anxiety. The 
prefent cafe was not an exception to the general rule. Not- 
withstanding the folid and fettled reputation of " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," and the brilliant fuccefs of the "Conqueft of Mexico," 
their author was certainly not free from mifgivings when his 
new argofy was launched. He felt that his fubjecl: had neither 
the breadth and importance of the fubjecls of thofe earlier 
works, nor the poetical intereft that constituted fo attractive an 
element in the laft of them. About negligence in the matter 
of his Style, too, he had fome fears ; for he had written the 
" Conqueft of Peru " with a rapidity that might have been 
accounted remarkable in one who had the free ufe of his eyes, 
turning off fometimes fixteen printed pages in a day, and not 
infrequently ten or a dozen. About the Statement of facts he 
had no anxiety. He had been careful and confcientious, as he 
always was ; and, except for miftakes trifling, accidental, and 
inevitable, honeft criticifm, he knew, could not approach him. 

But whatever might have been his feelings when the " Con- 
queft of Peru " firft came from the prefs, there was foon noth- 
ing of doubt mingled with them. The reviews, great and 
fmall, at home and in Europe, fpoke out at once loudly and 
plainly ; but the public fpoke yet louder and plainer. In five 
months five thoufand copies of the American edition had been 
fold. At about the fame time, an edition of half that number 
had been exhaufted in England. It had been republished 
in the original in Paris, and translations were going on into 
French, German, SpaniSh, and Dutch. A more complete 
fuccefs in relation to an historical work of fo much con- 



The Edinburgh Review!' 



267 



fequence could, I fuppofe, hardly have been aiked by any Chap - xix - 
author, however much he might previoufly have been favored 
by the public. 6 



1845. 

JEt. 49. 



MEMORANDA. 



May 1 8th, 1845. — I received the "Edinburgh Review" this week. It con- "Edinburgh 
tains an article on the " Conqueft of Mexico," written with great fpirit and ele- e%1 
gance, and by far the moft cordial as well as encomiaftic I have ever received from 
a Britifh journal ; much bevond, I fufpect, what the public will think I merit. 
It fays, — Nothing in the conduct of the work they would wifh otherwife, — 
that I unite the qualifications of the beft hiftorical writers of the dav, Scott, 
Napier, Tvtler, — is emphatic in the commendation of the ftyle, &c, &c. 
I begin to have a high opinion of Reviews ! The only fault they find with me 
is, that I deal too hardlv with Cortes. Shade of Montezuma ! Thev fav, I have 
been blind feveral years ! The next thing, I mail hear of a fubfcription fet on 
foot for the blind Yankee author. But I have written to the editor, Napier, to 
fet it right, if he thinks it worth while. Received alfo twentv columns of 
" newfpaperial " criticifms on the " Conqueft," in a fucceilion of papers from 
Quebec. I am certainly the caufe of fome wit, and much follv, in others. 

In relation to the miftake in the "Edinburgh Review" about Biindnefs. 
his biindnefs, he expreffed his feelings very naturally and very 
characleriftically, when writing, immediately afterwards, to his 
friend, Colonel Afpinwall, London. He was too proud to 
fubmit willingly to commiferation, and too honeft to accept 
praife for difficulties greater than he had really overcome. 



" I am very much obliged to vou," he wrote May 15th, 1845, 
kind fuggeftion about the error in the ' Edinburgh Review' on my 



" for your 
on mv biindnefs. 
I have taken the hint and written mvfelf to the editor, Mr. Napier, bv this 
fteamer. I have fet him right about the matter, and he can correct it, if he thinks 
it worth while. I can't fay I like to be called blind. I have, it is true, but 
one eye ; but that has done me fome fervice, and, with fair ufage, will, I truft, 
do me fome more. I have been fo troubled with inflammations, that I have not 
been able to ufe it for months, and twice for feveral years together." 

The following letter from the editor of the " Edinburgh 
Review" to Mr. Everett, then American Minifter in London, 
and the fubfequent memorandum of Mr. Prefcott himfelf, (how 
the end of this flight matter. 



6 To January 1, i860, there had been 
fold of the American and Englifh editions 



of the "Conqueft of Peru," 16,965 cop- 
ies. 



268 



Chap. XIX. 

1845. 
JEr. 49. 



United States 
and England. 



Blindnefs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



FROM MACVEY NAPIER, ESQ. 

Edinburgh, June 10, 1845. 

Dear Sir, 

A fhort abfence in the country has till now prevented me from acknowledg- 
ing the receipt of the flattering letter of the 2d with which you have been 
pleafed to honor me, covering a very acceptable enclofure from Mr. Prefcott. 

Thank God, there is an extenfive as well as rich neutral territory of fcience 
and literature, where the two nations may, and ever ought to meet, without any 
of thofe illiberal feelings and degrading animofities which too often impart 
a malignant afpect to the intercourfe and claims of civil life ; and it has really 
given me high fatisfa&ion to find, that both you and Mr. Prefcott himfelf 
are fatisfied that his very great merits have been kindly proclaimed in the article 
which I have lately had the pleafure of inferting in the " Edinburgh Review." 

I hope I may requeft that, when you fhall have any call otherwife to write to 
Mr. Prefcott, you will convey to him the expreflion of my fatisfacliion at finding 
that he is pleafed with the meed of honeft approbation that is there awarded 
to him. 

I am truly glad to learn from that gentleman himfelf, that the ftatement as to 
his total blindnefs, which I inferted in a note to the article, on what I thought 
good authority, proves to be inaccurate ; and from his wifh — natural to a lofty 
fpirit — that he mould not be thought to have originated or countenanced any 
ftatement as to the additional merits of hiftorical refearch which fo vaft a 
bereavement would infer, I fhall take an opportunity to correct my miftake ; a 
communication which will, befides, prove moft welcome to the learned world. 

With refpecl: to the authorfhip of the article, there needs to be no hefitation 
to proclaim it. With the exception of a very few editorial infertions and alter- 
ations, which do not by any means enhance its merits, it was wholly written 
by Mr. Charles Phillipps, — a young barrifter and fon of Mr. Phillipps, one of 
the Under-Secretaries of State for the Home-Department. He is the author 
of fome other very valuable contributions. You are quite at liberty to mention 
this to Mr. Prefcott. 

I have the honor to remain, with very great efteem, dear fir, 
Your obliged and faithful fervant, 

Macvey Napier. 
To his Excellency E. Everett, London. 



MEMORANDUM. 

Auguft 10th, 1845. — The editor of laft " Edinburgh Review " has politely 
inferted a note correcting the ftatement, in preceding number, of my blindnefs, 
on pretty good authority, — viz. myfelf. So I truft it will find credit. 



Letters to Don Pascual de Gayangos. 

TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Pepperell, Sept. 28, 1845. 

The Gafca manufcript, which I believe is in the box, will be in 

perfect feafon, as I am yet a good diftance from that period. 7 I have been verv 
induftrious this fummer, having written half a volume in thele quiet fhades 
of Pepperell. This concludes my firft volume, of which the Introduction, 
about one hundred and fifty pages, took me a long while. The reft will be eafv 
failing enough, though I wifh my hero was more of a gentleman and lefs of 
a bandit. I fhall not make more than a brace of volumes, I am refolved. 
Ford has fent me his tc Handbook of Spain." What an olla podrida it is ! — 
criticifm, travels, hiftory, topography, &c, &c, all in one. It is a perfect 
treafure in its way, and will fave me the trouble of a voyage to Spain, if I mould 
be inclined to make it before writing "Philip." He fpeaks of you like a gentle- 
man, as he ought to do ; and I have come better out of his hands than I did 
once on a time. 

Have you got the copy of my " Mifcellanies " I ordered for you ? You will 
fee my portrait in it, which mows more imagination than anything elfe in the 
book, I believe. The great ftaring eyes, however, will mow that I am not 
blind, — that 's fome comfort. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, Nov. 13, 1845. 

And now, my dear friend, I want to fay a word about the manufcripts, 

which I found awaiting me on my return to town. I have as yet, with the aid of 
my fecretarv's eyes, looked through only about half of them. They are very pre- 
cious documents. The letters from San Geronimo de Yulle have much intereft, 
and mow that Charles the Fifth was not, as Robertfon fuppofed, a retired monk, 
who refigned the world, and all the knowledge of it, when he refigned his crown. 
I fee mentioned in a ftatement of the manufcripts difcovered by Gonzales, 
printed in our newspapers and written by Mr. Wheaton, our Minifter at Berlin, 
that one of thefe documents was a diary kept by the Major Domo Quixada and 
Vafquez de Molina, the Emperor's private fecretary, to be tranfmitted to Dona 
Juana, the Princefs of Portugal ; which journal contains a minute account ot his 
health, adions, and converfation, &c, and that the diary furnifhed one great 
fource of Gonzales's information. It is now, I fuppofe, too late to get it, as 
moft probably the fituation of the manufcript is not known to the clerks oi 
the archives. Mignet told a friend of mine that he mould probably publifh 
fome of the moft important documents he had got from Gonzales before long. 

7 An important MS. relating to the adminillration of Gafca in Peru. 



269 



Chap. XIX. 

1845. 
JEt. 49. 



Conqueft of 
Peru." 



Mr. Ford. 



The Mifcella- 
nies. 



MSS. for Philip 
II. 



Diaries from 
Yufte. 



270 



Chap. XIX. 

1846. 
JEt. 50. 

The Armada. 



Tranflation of 
" Ferdinand 
and Ifabella. 



Relazioni 
Venete. 



Willi 



iam 



Hickling Prescott. 



I have no trouble on that fcore, as I feel already ftrong enough with your kind 
afliftance. The documents relating to the Armada have extraordinary intereft. 
The defpatches of Philip are eminently chara&eriftic of the man, and mow that 
nothing, great or little, was done without his fupervifion. We are juft now 
exploring the letters of the Santa Cruz collection. But this I have done only 
at intervals, when I could fnatch leifure. In a week or two I hope to be 
fettled. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 

Bofton, Aug. 31, 1846. 

The tranflation 8 appears faithful as far as I have compared it. As 

to its literary execution in other refpe&s, a foreigner cannot decide. But I wifh 
you would give my thanks to the tranflator for the pleafure it has given me. 
His notes on the whole are courteous, though they mow that Senor Sabau has 
contemplated the ground often, from a different point of view from myfelf. 
But this is natural. For am I not the child of democracy ? Yet no bigoted 
one, I allure you. I am no friend to bigotry in politics or religion, and I believe 
that forms are not fo important as the manner in which they are adminiftered. 
The mechanical execution of the book is excellent. It gives me real pleafure 
to fee myfelf put into fo refpe£table a drefs in Madrid. I prize a tranflation into 
the noble Caftilian more than any other tongue. For if my volumes are worthy 
of tranflation into it, it is the beft proof that I have not wafted my time, and 
that I have contributed fomething in reference to the inftitutions and hiftory of 
the country which the Spaniards themfelves would not willingly let die. 



TO THE CAVALIERE EUGENIO . ALB&RI, FLORENCE. 

Bofton, Oft. 13, 1846. 

My dear Sir, 

I have great pleafure in acknowledging the receipt of the fix volumes of 
Relazioni^ which you have been fo obliging as to fend me through- Mr. Lefter. 

It is a work of ineftimable value, and furnifhes the moft authentic bafis for 
hiftory. Your method of editing it appears to me admirable. The brief but 
comprehenfive hiftorical and chronological notices at the beginning, and your 
luminous annotations throughout, put the reader in pofTeflion of all the infor- 
mation he can defire in regard to the fubje&s treated in the Relazioni. At the 
clofe of the third volume, on the Ottomans, you place an Index of the contents 
of the volume which is a great convenience. 

I fuppofe, from what you fay in the Preface, there will be a full Index of the 
whole when completed. 

8 Of " Ferdinand and Ifabella," by Sabau. 



Letter from Miss Edgeworth. 



271 



1847. 

JEt. 51. 

Marquis Gino 
Capponi. 



Preface to the 
" Conqueft 
of Peru." 



I have a number of Venetian Relazioni in manufcript, copied from the libra- Chap. XIX. 
ries of Berlin and Gotha. Thev relate to the court of Philip the Second, on 
which vou muft now, I fuppofe, be occupied, and I fhall look forward to the 
conclufion of your learned labors with the greateft intereft. Many of your 
manufcripts, I fee, are derived from the Marquis Gino Capponi's collection. It 
muft be very rich indeed. — I am much grieved to learn that his eyes have now 
failed him altogether. My own privations in this way, though I have the partial 
ufe of my eyes, make me feel how heavy a blow it is to a fcholar like him. It 
is gratifying to reflect, that he bears up under it with fo much courage, and that 
the misfortune does not quench his generous enthufiafm for letters. Prav give 
my fincere refpects and regards to him, for, though I never faw him, I had the 
pleafure formerly of communicating with him, and I know his character fo well 
that I feel as if I knew him perfonally. 



FROM MISS MARIA EDGEWORTH. 

Edgeworth's Town, Aug. 28, 1847. 

Dear Sir, 

Your Preface to your " Hiftory of the Conqueft of Peru " is moft interefting ; 
efpecially that part which concerns the author individually. That delicate 
integrity which made him apprehend that he had received praife or fympathy 
from the world on falfe pretences, converts what might have been pity into 
admiration, without diminifriing the feeling for his fuffering and his privations, 
againft which he has fo nobly, fo perfeveringlv, fo fuccefsfully ftruggled. Our 
admiration and higheft efteem now are commanded by his moral courage and 
truth. 

What pleafure and pride — honeft, proper pride — you muft feel, mv dear 
Mr. Prefcott, in the fenfe of difficulty conquered ; of difficulties innumerable 
vanquifhed by the perfeverance and fortitude of genius ! It is a fine example 
to human nature, and will form genius to great works in the rifing generation 
and in ages yet unborn. 

What a new and ennobling moral view of pofthumous fame ! A view which Pofthumous 
fhort-fighted, narrow-minded mediocrity cannot reach, and probably would call 
romantic, but which the noble-minded realize to themfelves, and afk not either 
the fvmpathv or the comprehenfion of the commonplace ones. You need not 
apologize for fpeaking of yourfelf to the world. No one in the world, whole 
opinion is worth looking to, will ever think or call this " egotifm," any more than 
they did in the cafe of Sir Walter Scott. Whenever he fpoke of himfelf it was 
with the fame noble and engaging fimplicity, the fame endearing confidence in 
the fympathy of the good and true-minded, and the fame real freedom from all 
vanity which we fee in your addrefles to the public. 

As to your judgments of the advantages peculiar to each of your Hiftories, — 
the "Conqueft of Mexico " and the "Conqueft of Peru," — of courfe you, who 
have confidered and compared them in all lights, muft be accurate in your 



Utt'd. 



272 



Chap. XIX. 

1847. 
JEt. 51. 

Difficulties of 
the fubject in 
the " Con- 
quer!: of 
Peru." 



Cruelty of the 
Spaniards. 



Political free- 
dom. 



Negro flavery. 



Races. 

Authorities 
cited. 



Biographical 
notices. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



eftimate of the facility or difficulty each fubjec~r. prefented ; and you have well 
pointed out in your Preface to " Peru " the difficulty of making out a unity of 
fubjecl:, — where, in fait, the firft unity ends, as we may dramatically confider it, 
at the third act, when the conqueft of the Incas is effected, — but not the con- 
queft of Peru for Spain, which is the thing to be done. You have admirably 
kept the mind's eye upon this, the real end, and have thus carried on, and 
prolonged, and raited, as you carried forward, the intereft fuftained to the laft 
moment happily by the noble character of Gafca, with which terminates the 
hiftory of the miffion to Peru. 

You fuftain with the dignity of a juft hiftorian your mottoes from Claudian 
and from Lope de Vega. And in doing this con amore you carry with you the 
fympathy of your reader. The cruelties of the Spaniards to the inoffenfive, 
amiable, hofpitable, trufting Peruvians and their Incas are fo revolting, that, unlefs 
you had given vent to indignation, the reader's natural, irrepreffible feelings would 
have turned againft the narrator, in whom even impartiality would have been 
fufpected of want of moral fenfe. 

I wifh that you could have gone further into that comparifon or inquiry which 
you have touched upon and fo ably pointed out for further inquiry, — How far 
the want of political freedom is compatible or incompatible with happinefs or 
virtue ? You well obferve, that under the Incas this experiment was tried, or was 
trying, upon the Peruvians, and that the contrary experiment is now trying in 
America. Much may be/aid, but much more is to befeen, on both fides of this 
queftion. There is a good efTay by a friend of mine, perhaps of yours, the late 
Abbe Morellet, upon the fubjecl: of perfonal and political freedom. I wonder 
what your negroes would fay touching the comforts of flavery. They feem to 
feel freedom a curfe, when fuddenly given, and, when unprepared for the con- 
fequences of independence, lie down with the cap of liberty pulled over their ears 
and go to ileep or to death in fome of our freed, lazy colonies and the empire of 
Hayti. But, I fuppofe, time and motives will fettle all this, and waken fouls in 
black bodies as well as in white. Meanwhile, I cannot but wifh you had 
difcufTed a little more this queftion, even if you had come upon the yet more 
difficult queftion of races, and their unconquerable, or their conquerable or 
exhauftible differences. Who could do this fo well ? 

I admire your adherence to your principle of giving evidence in your notes and 
appendices for your own accuracy, and allowing your own opinions to be 
rejudged by your readers in furnifhing them with the means of judging which 
they could not otherwife procure, and which you, having obtained with fo much 
labor and fo much favor from high and clofed fources, bring before us gratis with 
fuch unoftentatious candor and humility. 

I admire and favor, too, your practice of mixing biography with hiftory ; 
genuine fayings and letters by which the individuals give their own character and 
their own portraits. And I thank you for the quantity of information you give 
in the notices of the principal authorities to whom you refer. Thefe bio- 
graphical notices add weight and value to the authorities, in the moft agreeable 
manner ; — though I own that I was often mortified by my own ignorance 
of the names you mention of great men, your familiars. — You have made 



Letter from M. Augustin Thierry. 



^73 



Chap. XIX. 



1847. 
JEt. 51. 

Navarrete. 



me long to have known your admirable friend, Don Fernandez de Navarrete, 
of whom you make fuch honorable and touching mention in your Preface. 

I muff content myfelf, however, — and comfortably well I do content my- 
felf, — with knowing your dear friend Mr. Ticknor, whom I do efteem and 
admire with all my heart, as you do. 

You mention Mr. O. Rich as a bibliographer to whom you have been obliged. 
It occurred to me that this might be the Mr. O. Rich refiding in London, to jo. Rich 
whom Mr. Ticknor had told me I might apply to convey packets or books to 
him, and, upon venturing to afk the queftion, Mr. Rich anfv/ered me in the moft 
obliging manner, confirming, though with great humility, his identitv, and offer- 
ing to convey any packets I might wifh to fend to Bofton. 

I yefterday fent to him a parcel to go in his next box of books to Mr. 
Ticknor. In it I have put, addreffed to the care of Mr. Ticknor, a very trifling 
offering for you, my dear fir, which, trifling as it is, I hope and truft your good | 
nature will not difdain, — half a dozen worked marks to put in books ; and JBook-marks. 
I intended thofe to be ufed in your books of reference when vou are working, as 
I hope you are, or will be, at your magnum opus, — the Hiftory of Spain. One 

of thefe marks, that which is marked in green filk " Maria E for Prefcott's 

works " ! ! ! is my own handiwork every ftitch ; in my eighty-firft year, — eighty- 
two almoft, — I mall be eighty-two the iff. of January. I am proud of being 
able, even in this trifling matter, to join my young friends in this family in 
working fouvenirs for the great hiftorian. 

Believe me, my dear Mr. Prefcott, your much obliged and highly gratified 
friend, and admiring reader and marker, 

Maria Edgeworth. 



TO DON PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. 



Bolton, Jan. 27, 1848. 

I have been overhauling my Philip the Second treafures, and making 

out a catalogue of them. It is as beautiful a collection, printed and manufcript, 
I will venture to fay, as hiftory-monger ever had on his (helves. How much 
am I indebted to you ! There are too many of your own books in it, however, 
by half, and you muff not fail to advife me when you want any or all of them, 
which I can eafily underftand may be the cafe at any time. 



FROM M. AUGUSTIN THIERRY. 

Monsieur, 
Pardonnez moi le long retard que j'ai mis a vous remereier du pr£cieux envoi 
que vous avez eu la bonte de me faire ; la lenteur de mes lectures d'aveugle, 

35 



Materials for 
Philip II. 



Thank: 



274 



Chap. XIX. 



JEt. 52. 



Mode of work. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



furtout en langue etrangere, le peu de loifir que me laifTe le trifle etat de ma 
fante et des travaux imperieux auxquels j'ai peine a fuffire, voila quelles ont ete 
les caufes de ma negligence apparente a remplir un devoir de gratitude et de 
haute eftime pour vous. Je voulais avoir completement lu vos deux nouveaux 
et tres remarquables volumes. Je trouve que, pour le fond, pour les recherches, 
la nettete et la juftefle des vues, ils font egaux a vos precedentes publications, 
et que peut-etre ils les furpalfent pour la forme. Le ftyle eft fobre et ferme, 
l'expofition nette et la partie dramatique de l'hiftoire vivement traitee. Pour- 
fuivez, Monfieur, des travaux dont le fucces egale le merite, et qui ont rendu 
votre nom illuftre de ce cote-ci de 1' Atlantique ; donnez leur toute l'etendue que 
vos projets comportaient, et ne vous laiflez pas decourager par la menace d'un 
mal qui, — j'en ai fait l'experience, — eft, dans la carriere d'hiftorien, une gene, 
un embarras, mais nullement un obftacle. 

Vous me demandez fi la neceilite, mere de toute induftrie, ne m'a pas fuggere 
quelques methodes particulieres, qui attenuent pour moi les difficultes du travail 
d'aveugle. Je fuis force d'avouer que je n'ai rien d'intereffant a vous dire. 
Ma facon de travailler eft la meme qu'au terns ou j'avais l'ufage de mes yeux, 
ft ce n'eft que je dicte et me fais lire ; je me fais lire tous les materiaux que 
j'emploie, car je ne m'en rapporte qu'a moi-meme pour l'exactitude des recher- 
ches et le choix des notes. II refulte de la une certaine perte de temps. Le travail 
eft long, mais voila tout; je marche lentement mais je marche. II n'y a qu'un 
moment difficile, c'eft le pafTage fubit de Pecriture manuelle a la dictee ; quand 
une fois ce point eft gagne, on ne trouve plus de veritables epines. Peut-etre, 
Monfieur, avez vous deja l'habitude de dicker a un fecretaire; ft cela eft,mettez 
vous a la faire exclufivement, et ne vous inquietez pas du refte. En quelques 
femaines vous deviendrez ce que je fuis moi-meme, auffi calme, auffi prefent 
d'efprit pour tous les details du ftyle que fi je travaillais avec mes yeux, la plume 
a la main. Ce n'eft pas au point ou vous etes parvenu qu'on s'arrete ; vous 
avez eprouve vds forces ; elles ne vous manqueront pas ; et le fucces eft certain 
pour tout ce que vous tenterez deformais. Je fuivrai de loin vos travaux avec 
la lympathie d'un ami de votre gloire ; croyez le, Monfieur, et agreez avec mes 
remerciments les plus vifs, l'afiurance de mes fentiments d'aflecT:ion et d'ad- 
miration. 

P. Augustin Thierry. 



22 Fevrier, 



FROM MR. HALLAM. 

Wilton Crefcent, London, July 18, 1848. 

My dear Sir, 
I hope that you will receive with this letter, or at leaft very foon afterwards, 
a volume which I have intrufted to the care of our friend, Mr. Bancroft. 9 It 
contains only the gleanings of the harveft, and I can hardly find a fufficiently 

9 Then Minifler of the United States in London. 



Letter to Mrs. Lyell. 



275 



Notes to his 
" Middle 
Ages." 



Hopes Mr. Pref- 
cott will come 
to England. 

State of Europe 



modeft name for it. After thirty years I found more to add, and, I muft fay, j Chap. XIX. 
more to correct, in my work on the " Middle Ages," than could well be brought | R R 

into the foot-notes of a new edition. I have confequently produced, under the m 
title " Supplemental Notes," almoft a new volume, but referring throughout to | 
the original work, fo that it cannot be of any utility to thofe who do not compare 
the two. This is, perhaps, rather a clumfy kind of compofition, and I am far 
from expecting much reputation by it : but I really hope that it may be ufeful to 
the readers of the former volumes. A great deal required expanfion and illustra- 
tion, befides what I muft in penitence confefs to be the overfights and errors 
of the work itfelf. I have great pleafure, however, in fending copies to my 
friends, both here and what few I poflefs in the United States ; and among them 
I am proud to rank your name, feparated as we are by the Atlantic barrier, 
which at my age it would be too adventurous to pafs. Rumors have from time 
to time reached me, that, notwithstanding the fevere vifitation of Providence 
under which you labor, you have contemplated yourfelf fo arduous a vova*ge. 
May you have health and fpirits to accomplifh it, while I yet remain on earth ! 
But I have yefterday entered my feventy-fecond year. 

I will not fpeak of the condition of Europe. You have been converfant with 
the hiftory of great and rapid revolutions; but nothing in the pail annals of man- 
kind can be fet by the fide of the laft months. We rejoice in trembling, that 
God has hitherto fpared this nation ; but the principles of difintegration, which 
France and Germany are fo terribly fufFering under, cannot but be at work 
among us. 

I truft that you are proceeding as rapidly as circumftances will permit with 
your fourth great Hiftory, that of Philip the Second. It always appears marvel- 
lous to me, how you achieve fo much under fo many impediments. 
Believe me, my dear fir, 

Moft faithfully yours, 

Henry Hallam. 



TO MRS. LYELL. 



Nahant, Fitful Head, Aug. 5, 184.8. 

We are palling our fummer in our rocky eyrie at Nahant, taking in 

the cool breezes that blow over the waters, whofe fpray is dafhing up inceffantly 
under my window. I am idly-bufy with looking over my Philip the Second 
collection, like one who looks into the dark gulf, into which he is afraid to 
plunge. Had I half an eve in my head, I mould not " ftand fhivering on the 
brink " fo long. The Ticknors are at a very pleafant place on the coaft, fome 
twenty miles off, at Manchefter. I hear from them conftantly, but fee them 
rarely. 



Philip II. 



Philip II. 



276 



Chap. XIX. 



Mt. 52. 



Conqueft of 
Peru." 



State of Europe, 



Death of Lord 

Carlifle. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



FROM THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

London, Nov. 18, 1848. 

My dear Prescott, 

I fadly fear that, if a ftricl: investigation of my laft date took place, it would be 
found that I had lagged behind the yearly bargain; and I fear I am the delin- 
quent. I will honeftly own why I put off writing for fome time ; I wifhed to 
have read your " Peru " before I did fo, and to tell you what I thought of it. 
I will carry my honefty further, and intrepidly avow, that I ftill labor under the 
fame difqualification, though in fact this is both my fhame and my merit, for 
I am very fure it would have been a far more agreeable and delightful occupation 
to me than the many tedious, haraffing fhreds of bufinefs which engrofs and rule 
all my hours. I can as honeftly tell you, that I have heard very high and moft 
concurrent praife of it, and there are many who prefer it to " Mexico." 
I wonder what you are engaged upon now ; is it the ancient project of " Philip 
the Second" ? 

Europe is in the meanwhile acting hiftory fafter than you can write it. The 
web becomes more inextricable every day, and the tiffues do not wear lighter 
hues. I think our two Saxon families prefent very gratifying contrafts, on the 
whole, to all this fearful pother. 

You will probably be aware, that my thoughts and feelings muft have of late 
been mainly concentrated upon a domeftic bereavement, 10 and, at the end of my 
letter, you will read a new name. After my long filence, I was really anxious 
to take a very early opportunity of affuring you that it inherits and hopes to per- 
petuate all the efteem and affection for you that were acquired under the old 
one. My dear friend, abfence and diftance only rivet on my fpirit the delight 
of claiming communion with fuch a one as yours ; for I am fure it is ftill 
as bright, gentle, and high-toned, as when I firft gave myfelf to its fpell. 

I muft not write to his brother-hiftorian without mentioning that Macaulay 
tells me the two firft volumes of his Hiftory will be out in lefs than a fortnight. 
Tell Sumner how unchangedly I feel towards him, though, I fear, I have been 
equally guilty to him. 

Does Mrs. Ticknor ftill remember me ? 
Ever, my dear Prefcott, 

Affectionately yours, 

Carlisle. 



The death of his father, fixth Earl of Carliflec 



277 




CHAPTER XX. 

1848. 

Mr. Motley. — Hefitation about beginning the Hiftory of Philip II. — 
State of his Sight bad. — Preparations. — Doubts about taking the whole 
Sub] eft. — Memoir of Pickering. — Early Intimations of a Life of Philip 
II. — Collection of Materials for it. — Difficulty of getting them. — 
Greatly affifted by Don Pafcual de Gayangos. — Materials at loft ample. 
— Prints for his own Ufe a Portion of Ranke s Spanifh Empire. 



^T^Cggg^OMEWHAT earlier than the period at which 
we are now arrived, — in fact, before the "Con- 
queft of Peru" was publimed, — an interefting 
circumftance occurred connected immediately 
with the " Hiftory of Philip the Second," which 
Mr. Prefcott was at this time juft about to un- 
dertake in earneft, and for which he had been making arrange- 
ments and preparations many years. I refer to the fad:, nov 




Chap. \\. 

1S4S. 
JEt. 52, 



278 



Chap. XX. 



JEt. 52. 

Mr. J. L. Mot- 
ley. 



Mr. Motley's 
notice of Mr. 
Prefcott's 
" Philip the 
Second." 



His anxiety. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



well known, that Mr. J. Lothrop Motley, who has fince gained 
fo much honor for himfelf and for his country as an hiftorian, 
was — in ignorance of Mr. Prefcott's purpofes — already occu- 
pied with a kindred fubjecl:. 1 The moment, therefore, that he 
was aware of this condition of things and the confequent poffi- 
bility that there might be an untoward interference in their 
plans, he took the fame frank and honorable courfe with Mr. 
Prefcott, that Mr. Prefcott had taken in relation to Mr. Irving, 
when he found that they had both been contemplating a " Hif- 
tory of the Conqueft of Mexico." The refult was the fame. 
Mr. Prefcott, inftead of treating the matter as an interference, 
earneftly encouraged Mr. Motley to go on, and placed at his 
difpofition fuch of the books in his library as could be ufeful 
to him. How amply and promptly he did it, Mr. Motley's 
own account will beft (how. It is in a letter, dated at Rome, 
26th February, 1859, — the day he heard of Mr. Prefcott's 
death, — and was addreffed to his intimate friend, Mr. William 
Amory, of Bofton, Mr. Prefcott's much loved brother-in-law. 



It feems to me but as yefterday, though it muft be now twelve years ago, that 
I was talking with our ever-lamented friend Stackpole 2 about my intention of 
writing a hiftory upon a fubjecl: to which I have fince that time been devoting 
myfelf. I had then made already fome general ftudies in reference to it, without 
being in the leaft aware that Prefcott had the intention of writing the " Hiftory 
of Philip the Second." Stackpole had heard the facl, and that large prepara- 
tions had already been made for the work, although " Peru " had not yet been 
publimed. I felt naturally much difappointed. I was confcious of the immenfe 
difadvantage to myfelf of making my appearance, probably at the fame time, 
before the public, with a work, not at all fimilar in plan to Philip the Second, 
but which muft, of neceffity, traverfe a portion of the fame ground. 

My firft thought was inevitably, as it were, only of myfelf. It feemed to me 
that I had nothing to do, but to abandon at once a cherifhed dream, and probably 
to renounce authorfhip. For I had not firft made up my mind to write a hiftory, 
and then caft about to take up a fubjecl:. My fubjecl had taken me up, drawn 
me on, and abforbed me into itfelf. It was neceffary for me, it feemed, to write 
the book I had been thinking much of, even if it were deftined to fall dead from 
the prefs, and I had no inclination or intereft to write any other. When I had 



1 " The Rife of the Dutch Republic," 
not publifhed until 1856. 

2 Mr. J. L. Stackpole, a gentleman of 



much cultivation, and a kinfman of Mr, 
Motley by marriage, was fuddenly killed 
by a railroad accident in 1847. 



Letter of Mr. Motley to Mr. Amory. 



made up my mind accordingly, it then occurred to me that Prefcott might not be 
pleafed that I mould come forward upon his ground. It is true, that no an- 
nouncement of his intentions had been made, and that he had not, I believe, 
even commenced his preliminary ftudies for Philip. At the fame time, I thought 
it would be difloyal on my part not to go to him at once, confer with him on 
the fubjecl:, and, if I mould find a fhadow of diflatis faction on his mind at my 
propofition, to abandon my plan altogether. 

I had only the {lighter!: acquaintance with him at that time. I was compara- 
tively a young man, and certainly not entitled, on any ground, to more than the 
common courtefy which Prefcott never could refufe to any one. But he received 
me with fuch a frank and ready and liberal fympathy, and fuch an open-hearted, 
guilelefs expanfivenefs, that I felt, a perfonal affection for him from that hour. 
I remember the interview as if it had taken place yefterdav. It was in his 
father's houfe, in his own library, looking on the garden. Houfe and garden, 
honored father and illuftrious fon, — alas ! all numbered with the things that 
were ! He affured me that he had not the flighteft objection whatever to my 
plan, that he wifhed me every fuccefs, and that, if there were any books in his 
library bearing on my fubjeCT. that I liked to ufe, they were entirely at my fervice. 
After I had exprefTed my gratitude for his kindnefs and cordialitv, by which 
I had been, in a very few moments, fet completelv at eafe, — fo far as my fears 
of his difapprobation went, — I alfo, very naturally, ftated my opinion, that the 
danger was entirely mine, and that it was rather wilful of me thus to rifk fuch a 
collifion at my firft venture, the probable confequence of which was utter fhip- 
wreck. I recollect how kindly and warmly he combated this opinion, afTuring 
me that no two books, as he faid, ever injured each other, and encouraging me 
in the warmeft and molt earneft manner to proceed on the courfe I had marked 
out for myfelf. 

Had the refult of that interview been different, — had he diftin£Uy ftated, or 
even vaguely hinted, that it would be as well if I mould fele£t fome other topic, 
or had he only fprinkled me with the cold water of conventional and common- 
place encouragement, — I mould have gone from him with a chill upon my mind, 
and, no doubt, have laid down the pen at once ; for, as I have already faid, it was 
not that I cared about writing a hiftory, but that I felt an inevitable impulfe to 
write one particular hijlory. 

You know how kindly he always fpoke of and to me •, and the generous man- 
ner in which, without the flighteft hint from me, and entirely unexpected by me, 
he attracted the eyes of his hofts of readers to my forthcoming work, by fo hand- 
fomely alluding to it in the Preface to his own, muft be almoft as frefh in your 
memory as it is in mine. 

And although it feems eafy enough for a man of world-wide reputation thus 
to extend the right hand of fellowfhip to an unknown and ftruggling afpirant, vet 
I fear that the hiftory of literature will fhow that such inftances of difinterefted 
kindnefs are as rare as they are noble. 3 

* The whole of this {hiking letter is Maflachufctts Hiilorical Society for [858, 
to be found in the Proceedings of the 1859, pp. 266-27K It is a true and 



279 



Chap. XX. 



&t. 52. 



Vifit to Mr. 
Prefcott. 



Mr. Prefcott's 
kindnefs. 



Mr. Motley's 
gratification. 



28o 



Chap. XX. 



J£t. 52. 

Mr. Prefcott's 
manufcripts. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



1 



His pofition. 



To this frank and interefting ftatement I can add, that Mr. 
Prefcott told it all to me at the time, and then alked me 
whether I would not advife him to offer Mr. Motley the ufe 
of his manufcript collections for " Philip the Second," as he had 
already offered that of his printed books. I told him, that I 
thought Mr. Motley would hardly be willing to accept fuch an 
offer ; and, befides, that, if there were anything peculiarly his 
own, and which he mould feel bound to referve, as giving efpe- 
cial authority and value to his Hiftory, it muft be the materials 
he had, at fo much pains and coft, collected from the great 
archives and libraries all over Europe. The idea, I confefs, 
ftruck me as fomewhat extravagant, and no doubt he would 
have felt pain in giving away perfonal advantages fo obvious, 
fo great, and fo hardly earned ; but, from the goodnefs of his 
nature, I have no doubt that he was capable of the facrifice. 

In due time, as we have feen, the " Conqueft of Peru " was 
published ; and Mr. Prefcott naturally turned to the next great 
work he was to undertake, and which had been ten years, at 
leaft, among his well-digefted plans for the future. 

His pofition for fuch an undertaking was, in many refpects, 
fortunate. The ftate of his eyes indeed was bad, and his gen- 
eral health feemed a little fhaken. But he was only fifty-two 
years old ; his fpirits and courage were as high as they had 
been in his youth ; his practice as a writer and his experience 
of the peculiar difficulties he had to encounter were as great as 
they well could be ; and, above all, fuccefs had fet a feal on 
his previous brilliant efforts which seemed to make the future 
fure. 

Still he paufed. The laft meets of the " Conqueft of Peru " 
were corrected for the prefs, and the work was therefore 
entirely off his hands, in March, 1847; as > m ^ a( ^? lt na ci 
been fubftantially fince the preceding October. But in March, 



touching tribute to Mr. Prefcott's perfonal 
character and intellectual eminence, the 
more to be valued, fince, in i860, Mr. 
Motley was elefted to the place left vacant 
in the French Inftitute bv Mr. Prefcott's 



death, — an honor not only fit in itfelf, but 
peculiarly appropriate, fince it preferves 
the fucceffion of Spanifh hiftorians in the 
fame chair unbroken, from the time of 
Navarrete's election, half a century earlier. 



Discouragement. 



281 



JEt. 



He paufes in his 
work. 



1848, he could not be faid to have begun in earneft, his ftudies Chap. XX 
for the reign of Philip the Second. This long hefitation was 1848 
owing in part to the reluctance that always held him back 
from entering promptly on any new field of labor, and partly 
to the condition of his fight. 

The laft, in fa<5t, had now become a fubjecl: of fuch ferious 
confideration and anxiety, as he had not felt for many years. 
The power of ufing his eye — his only eye, it mould always Ba £ * ate 
be remembered — had been gradually reduced again, until it 
did not exceed one hour a day, and that divided into two por- 
tions, at confiderable intervals from each other. On exami- 
nation, the retina was found to be affected anew, and incipient 
amaurofis, or decay of the nerve, was announced. Hopes were 
held out by an oculift who vifited Bofton at this period, and 
whom Mr. Prefcott confulted for the firft time, that relief 
more or lefs confiderable might ftill be found in the refources 
of the healing art, and that he might yet be enabled to profe- 
cute his labors as well as he had done. But he could not accept 
thefe hopes, much as he defired to. He knew that for thirty- 
four years one eye had been compelled to do the work of 
two, and that the labor thus thrown upon the fingle organ — 
however carefully he had managed and fpared it — had been 
more than it could bear. He felt that its powers were decay- 
ing ; in fome degree, no doubt, from advancing years, but 
more from overwork, which yet could not be avoided with- 
out abandoning the main hopes of his literary life. He there- 
fore reforted for counfel to phyficians of eminence, who were 
his friends, but who were not profefled oculifts, and laid his 
cafe before them. It was not new to them. They had known 
it already in moft of its afpe&s, but they now gave to it again 
their moft careful confideration. The refult of their judg- 
ment coincided with his own previoufly formed opinion ; and, 
under their advice, he deliberately made up his mind, as he 
has recorded it, " to relinquish all ufe of the eye for the future 
in his ftudies, and to be content if he could preferve it for the 
more vulgar purpofes of life/' 
36 



Confutation 

I about it. 



282 



Chap. XX. 

1848. 
Alt. 52. 

Decifion. 



Difcourage- 
ment. 



Partial idlenefs. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



It was a hard decifion. I am not certain that he made it 
without a lingering hope, fuch as we are all apt to indulge, 
even in our darkeft moments, concerning whatever regards 
health and life; — a hope, I mean, that there might ftill be 
a revival of power in the decayed organ, and that it might 
ftill ferve him, in fome degree, as it had done, if not to the 
fame extent. But if he had fuch a hope, he was careful not 
to fofter it or rely on it. His record on this point is ftriking 
and decifive. 

Thus was I in a fimilar fituation with that in which I found myfelf on be- 
ginning the " Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella " ; — with this important dif- 
ference. Then I had hopes to cheer me on ; the hope of future improvement, 
as the trouble then arofe from an exceflive fenfibility of the nerve. But this 
hope has now left me, and forever. And whatever plans I am to make of 
future ftudy muft be formed on the fame calculations as thofe of a blind man. 
As this defponding conviction prefTed on me, it is no wonder that I mould have 
paufed and greatly hefitated before involving myfelf in the labyrinth of refearches 
relating to one of the moft bufy, comprehenfive, and prolific periods of European 
hiftory. The mere fight of this collection from the principal libraries and 
archives of Europe, which might have daunted the refolution of a younger man, 
in the pofTeflion of his faculties, filled me with apprehenfion bordering on defpair ; 
and I muft be pardoned if I had not the heart to plunge at once into the arena, 
and, blindfold as I was, engage again in the conflict. 

And then I felt how flow muft be my progrefs. Any one who has had 
occafion to confult numerous authorities, — and thofe, too, in foreign languages, 
— for every fentence, will understand bow flow and perplexing. And though, 
once entered on this career, I could have gone on in fpite of obftacles, as, at 
times, I had already done, yet I hefitated before thus voluntarily encountering 
them. 

The firft fix months after the publication of my " Peru " were pafled in that 
kind of literary loafing in which it is not unreafonable to indulge after the com- 
pletion of a long work. As I tired of this, I began to coquet with my Philip 
the Second, by reading, or rather liftening to, the Englifh hiftories which had 
any bearing on the ftory, and which could fhow me the nature and compafs of 
it. Thus, I have heard Robertfon's " Charles the Fifth," Watfon's " Philip 
the Second," Ranke's " Popes," and other works of Ranke and Von Raumer 
done into Englifh, and Dunham's volume relating to the period in his " Spain 
and Portugal." I have, alfo, with the aid of my fecretary, turned over the title- 
pages and got fome idea of the contents of my books and manufcripts ; — a 
truly precious collection of rarities, throwing light on the darkeft corners of this 
long, eventful, and, in fome refpects, intricate hiftory. 

The refult of the examination fuggefts to me other ideas. There is fo 



Doitbts. 



283 



18, 
At. 



much incident in this fruitful reign, — fo many complete and interefting epifodes, 
as it were, to the main ftory, — that it now occurs to me I may find it expedient 
to felecl: one of them for my fubjecl:, inftead of attempting the whole. Thus, for 
example, we have the chivalrous and fatal expedition of Don Sebaftian and the 
conqueft of Portugal ; the romantic fiege of Malta ; the glorious war of the 
revolution in the United Provinces. This laft is by far the greateft theme, and 
has fome qualities — as thofe of unity, moral intereft, completenefs, and mo- 
mentous and beneficent refults — which may recommend it to the hiftorian, who 
has the materials for both at his command, in preference to the Reign of Philip 
the Second. 

One obvious advantage to me in my crippled ftate is, that it would not 
require more than half the amount of reading that the other fubje£t would. 
But this is a decifion not lightly to be made, and I have not yet pondered it as 
I muft. Something, I already feel, I muft do. This life of far niente is be- 
coming oppreflive, and " I begin to be aweary of the fun." I am no longer 
young, certainly ; but at fifty-two a man must be even more crippled than I am 
to be entitled to an honorable difcharge from fervice. 

With fuch mingled feelings, — difheartened by the condition / 
of his eye, and yet wearied out with the comparative idlenefs 
his infirmity had forced upon him, — it is not remarkable that 
he mould have hefitated ftill longer about a great undertaking, 
the ample materials for which lay fpread out before him. Juft 
at this time, too, other things attracted his attention, or de- 
manded it, and he gladly occupied himfelf with them, feeling 
th?t they were at leaft an apology for not turning at once to 
his feverer work. 

One of thefe was a Memoir of Mr. John Pickering, a wife, 
laborious, accurate fcholar, worthy every way to be the fon of 
that faithful ftatefman, who not only filled the highefl: places 
in the government under Wafhington, but was Wafhington's 
perfonal, trufted friend. This Memoir the Maffachufetts His- 
torical Society had defired Mr. Prefcott to prepare for its 
Collections, and his memorandum (hows with what feelings of 
affection and refpect he undertook the work affigned to him. 

" It will not be long," he fays, " but, long or fhort, it will be a labor of \o\ e ; 
for there is no man whom I honored more than this eminent fcholar, eftimabk 
alike for the qualities of his heart and for the gifts of his mind. He was a true 
and kind friend to me ; and, from the firft moment of my entering on nn 
hiftonc career down to the clofe of his life, he watched over my literary 
attempts with the deepeft intereft. It will be a fad pleafure for me to pay an 
honeft tribute to the good man's worth." 



XX. 



52. 



Doubts about 
taking the 
whole lubjedl. 

War of the 
Netherlands. 



Memoir of 
Pickering. 



284 



Chap. XX. 

1848. 
JEt. 52. 

Charadter of it. 



Spanifh Litera- 
ture. 



Work. 



Reign of Philip 
the Second 
early thought 
of. 



L 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



The Memoir is not long nor eulogiftic ; but as a biography 
it is faithful and fincere, and renders to Mr. Pickering's intel- 
lectual and moral character the honors it fo richly deferved. 
The ftyle throughout is fimple and graceful, without the 
ilighteft approach to exaggeration ; fuch, in fhort, as was be- 
coming the modeft man to whofe memory the Memoir itfelf 
was devoted. 4 

Another of the fubjects that occupied a good deal of his 
time during the fpring of 1848 was a careful revifion which he 
gave to my manufcript " Hiftory of Spanifh Literature/' then 
nearly ready for the prefs. It was an act of kindnefs for 
which I mall always feel grateful, and the record of which I 
preferve with care, as a proof how faithful he was and how 
frank. It took him fome weeks, — too many, if he had not 
then been more than ufually idle, or, at leaft, if he had not 
deemed himfelf to be fo. 

But he was not really idle. In comparifon with thofe days 
of fevere activity which he fometimes gave to his " Mexico," 
when his eyes permitted him to do for two or three hours a 
day what he could never do afterwards, his work might not 
now be accounted hard; but ftill, during the fummer of 1848, 
it was real work, continuous and effective. 

The great fubject of the reign of Philip the Second had, as 
I have already intimated, been many years in his mind. As early 
as the fpring of 1838, when he had only juft fent to Madrid for 
the materials on which to found his hiftories of the Conqueft 
of Mexico and Peru, and while he was ftill uncertain of 
fuccefs about obtaining them, he faid : " Should I fucceed in 
my prefent collections, who knows what facilities I may find 
for making one relative to Philip the Second's reign, — a 
fruitful theme if difcuifed under all its relations, civil and 
literary as well as military, the laft of which feems alone to 
have occupied the attention of Watfon." 

In fact, from this time, although he may occafionally have 



4 It is in the 
Vol. X. 



Collections of the Maflachufetts Hiflorical Society," Third Series, 



Materials for the History of Philip the Second. 285 



had doubts or mifgivings in relation to his refources for writing Chap - xx - 
it, the fubjed: itfelf of the reign of Philip the Second was! 1848. 
never long out of his mind. Somewhat more than a year | ^ T - 5 2 - 
later he fays : " By advices from Madrid this week, I learn Doubts about 
that the archives of Simancas are in fo diforderly a ftate, that j materials for 
it is next to impoffible to gather materials for the reign of 
Philip the Second. I mail try, however " ; — adding that, 
unlefs he can obtain the ampleft collections, both printed and 
manufcript, he mail not undertake the work at all. 

The letters to which he refers were very difcouraging. One 
was from Dr. Lembke, who had fo well ferved him in colled:- 1 
ing manufcripts and books for his Conquefts of Mexico and 
Peru, but who feemed now to think it would be very difficult 
to get accefs to the archives of Simancas, and who was arTured 
by Navarrete, that, even if he were on the fpot, he would find 
everything in confufion, and nobody competent to direct or 
affift his refearches. The other letter, which was from the 
Secretary of the American Legation, — his old college friend, 
Middleton, — was ftill more difcouraging. 

" I enclofe you," he writes, " Lembke's letter, and confirm what he fays as to 
the difficulty of getting at the Simancas papers, or even obtaining any definite 
notion of their fubje&s. A young gentleman who had free accefs to them 
during fix months, under the aufpices of a learned profeflor, allured me that, 
with the exception of thofe relating to the Bourbon dynafty (i. e. fince 1700), 
the papers are all thrown together without order or index. Whatever Hep, 
therefore, you may be inclined to take in the matter, would be a /peculation, and 
the queftion is, whether it would be worth your while. "5 

But, as Mr. Prefcott well knew, Simancas mutt necefTarily ss 
be the great depofitory for original, unpublifhed documents 
relating to the reign of Philip the Second, the collection of 
which was begun there by that monarch; and he therefore 
determined to perfevere in his efforts, and by fome means 



Mr. Middleton. 



5 Thefe letters were written in 1839. 
In 1 841, Mr. Middleton ceafed to be con- 
nected with the Spanifh Legation. When 
Mr. Prefcott received the laft refults of 
his friend's care for his wants, he faid : 



"I have received another fupplv, — the 
laft of the manufcripts from Middleton, in 
Madrid. I lofe there a good friend, who 
has been efficient and true in his labors 
for me." 



286 



Chap. XX. 



JEt. 52. 



Materials in 
Paris. 



Don Pafcual de 
Gayangos. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



obtain accefs to them. Indeed, as we have all along feen, he 
was not of a temper readily to give up anything important 
which he had once deliberately undertaken. 

Juft at this moment, however, he. was deprived of the fer- 
vices of Dr. Lembke. That gentleman had become obnoxious 
to the Spanifh government, and was ordered out of the country 
with hardly the formality of a warning. But his firft refuge 
was Paris, and there he was again able to be ufeful to Mr. 
Prefcott. M. Mignet and M. Ternaux-Compans opened to 
him freely their own rich manufcript collections, and indicated 
to him yet other collections, from which alfo he caufed copies 
to be made of documents touching the affairs of Philip. But 
Dr. Lembke, I think, remained in Paris only a few months, 
and never was able to return to Madrid, as he intended and 
hoped when he left it. His fervices to Mr. Prefcott, therefore, 
which had been, up to this time, both important and kind, 
could no longer be counted upon. 

Happily, however, Mr. Prefcott was now able to turn to 
Don Pafcual de Gayangos, the Spanifh fcholar, who, as we 
have noticed, had written eighteen months earlier a pleafant 
article in the " Edinburgh Review " on " Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella," and who was now in London publifhing for " The 
Oriental Fund Society " his tranflation of Al Makkari on 
the Mohammedan rule in Spain. Some correfpondence of a 
friendly nature had already paffed between them, 6 and Mr. 



6 I have not been able to procure the 
earlieft letters in the correfpondence be- 
tween Mr. Prefcott and Don Pafcual de 
Gayangos, and fuppofe they are loft. The 
earlieft one that has come to my hands is 
from Don Pafcual, and is dated Dec. 1, 
1839. From this I infer that Mr. Prefcott 
had written to him on the 30th of March 
preceding, to thank him for his review of 
the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," and on the 
6th of July concerning his literary projedls 
generally ; but that illnefs and abfence 
from London had prevented Don Pafcual 
from anfwering earlier. On the 28th of 



December, 1841, Mr. Prefcott records in 
his memoranda : " I have had the fatif- 
fadtion to learn from that accomplifhed 
fcholar, Gayangos, that he will undertake 
the collection of manufcripts for me relat- 
ing to Philip the Second's hiftory, fo far 
as it can be effected in Paris and London." 
A part of Mr. Prefcott's correfpondence 
with Don Pafcual about the materials for 
a hiftory of Philip the Second has already 
been given, as its dates required, while 
Mr. Prefcott was employed on his " Con- 
queft of Peru." 



Don Pascital de Gayangos. 



287 



Chap. XX. 



1848. 
JEt. 52. 



Britifh Mufeum. 



Mr. Van der 
Weyer. 



M. Mignet. 



Prefcott now afked Don Pafcual's counfel and aid in collecting 
the materials he needed for his work on the reign of Philip 
the Second. He could not have addreffed himfelf more fortu- 
nately. Don Pafcual entered into the literary projects of Mr. 
Prefcott, as we have already feen, in his previous correfpond- 
ence, with great difintereftednefs and zeal. He at once 
caufed above eighteen hundred pages of manufcript to be 
copied in the Britifh Mufeum and the State-Paper Office, Lon- 
don, and went, with an affiftant, to the remarkable collection 
of Sir Thomas Phillips, in Worcefterfhire, where he again ob- sir t. phiiii ps . 
tained much that proved valuable. Subfequently he vilited I 
Bruffels, and, with letters from Mr. Van der Weyer, the accom- 
plished Minifter of Belgium in London, was permitted to take 
copies of whatever could be found in the archives there. Still 
later, he went to Paris, and, affifted by M. Mignet, difcovered 
other rich materials, which were immediately tranfcribed and 
fent to their deftination. The mafs of manufcripts was, there- 
fore, in 1842, already considerable. 

But Spain was, after all, the country where the chief mate- 
rials for fuch a fubjecl were to be found ; and nobody knew 
this better than Mr. Prefcott. While, therefore, he neglected 
no refource outfide of the Pyrenees ; and while, by the kind- 
nefs of Mr. Edward Everett, our ftatefman at once and our Mr. e. Everett. 
fcholar, who happened then to be in Florence ; by that of Dr. I 
Ferdinand Wolf of Vienna, learned in everything Spanifh ; and Dr. r. wolf, 
by that of Humboldt and Ranke, at Berlin, each primus inter A ' b ^ d n t Hum ~ 
pares on such matters, he had obtained a great deal that was Rank.. 
moft welcome from the public offices and libraries of Tufcany, 
Auftria, Pruffia, and Gotha, — ftill he kept his eye fattened on 
Spain, as the main refource for his great undertaking. 

And here again he was fortunate. Don Pafcual de Gayangos, 
having finifhed his important work for the " Oriental Fund," 
naturally returned to Madrid, with whofe Univerfity he became 
connected as ProfefTor of Arabic Literature. This was in [842, 
and from that time he never ceafed to fend Mr. Prefcott, not 
only rare books in large numbers, but manufcripts, both original 



Don P. iii ual de 
Gayangos in 
Spain, 



288 



Chap. XX. 

1848. 
JEt. 52. 



In Simancas. 



Rich materials 
for the reign 
of Philip the 
Second. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



and copied, of the greateft value. 7 Already, in 1849, thefe 
collections feemed to be complete ; but for feveral years more 
they were continued and increafed. The muniment rooms of 
the great families in Spain — the Alvas, the Santa Cruz, and 
others — were thrown open; the Public Archives, the Na- 
tional Library, in fhort, whatever could be ufed as a refource, 
were all vifited and examined. In 1844, Don Pafcual fpent 
nearly two months at Simancas, under the moft favorable 
aufpices, and brought away and fubfequently fecured from this 
great treafure-houfe and tomb of the Spaniih government and 
its diplomacy fpoils which one lefs familiar with the hiftory 
of the times would hardly have been able to difcover amidft 
the confufion that had fo long reigned there undifturbed. 

The collection thus made with great labor in the courfe of 
nearly twenty years is, no doubt, one of the richeft and moft 
complete ever made on any fubject of hiftorical refearch. Set- 
ting afide the books in Mr. Prefcott's library that relate only 
incidentally to the affairs of Spain in the fixteenth century, the 
number of which is very confiderable, there are above three 
hundred and feventy volumes that regard efpecially the times 
of Philip the Second, and, when the manufcript copies that 
had been made for him all over Europe were brought together 
and bound, they made fifteen thick folios, not counting thofe 
which came to him already bound up, or which ftill remain 
unbound, to the amount of eight or ten volumes more. 8 It 
needed many Ikilful, kind, and faithful hands in many coun- 
tries to form fuch a collection ; but without the affiftance of 
a fcholar to fuperintend and direcl: the whole, like Don Pafcual 
de Gayangos, full of knowledge on the particular mbjecl:, proud 



7 In a letter to Don Pafcual, dated 
March 27, 1842, he fays: "I wifh you 
could fpend only three months in Spain, 
and I mould afk no better luck." And 
again, July 14: "It will be very fortunate 
for me, if you can vifit both Paris and 
Spain. It will leave me nothing to defire." 
Before the year was over, this wifh was 
moft unexpectedly fulfilled. 



8 The greater part of his rich collection 
of manufcripts for the " Mexico," " Peru," 
and " Philip the Second," Hood together, 
well bound in morocco, and made quite a 
linking appearance in his library. He 
fometimes called this part of it " his Se- 
raglio." 



Ranke s "Spanish Empire!' 



289 



of his country, whofe honor he knew he was ferving, and dif- 
interefted as a Spanifh hidalgo of the olden temper and loyalty, 
Mr. Prefcott could never have laid the foundations he did for 
his " Hiftory of Philip the Second," or executed his purpofe 
fo far and fo well. 

Some of thefe treafures arrived in the courfe of the laft two 
or three years of his life ; but moft of them were already on 
his (helves in the fummer of 1848, when he had not yet given 
himfelf up to fevere labor on his " Hiftory of Philip the Sec- 
ond," and when, indeed, as we have feen, he was complaining 
of his idlenefs. But he was fomewhat unjuft to himfelf on this 
point now, as he had occafionally been before. He had not, 
in fact, been idle during the fummer. When the autumn fet 
in and he returned to town, he had read, or rather liftened 
to, San Miguel's " Hiftoria de Felipe Segundo," published be- 
tween 1844 and 1847 m f° ur goodly octavos ; the " Hiftoire 
de l'Efpagne," by Weifs ; the portion of Tapia's " Civiliza- 
cion Efpariola," which covers the fixteenth century ; and the 
correfponding parts of Sifmondi's " Hiftoire des Francais," and 
of Lingard's " Hiftory of England." But, above all, he had 
read and ftudied Ranke's " Spanifh Empire " ; a book which 
whoever writes on the hiftory of Spain muft, if he is wife, 
confider carefully in all its pofitions and conclufions. In his 
memoranda Mr. Prefcott truly defcribes Ranke as "acute and 
penetrating ; gathering his information from fources little 
known, efpecially the Reports of the Venetian Ambaffa- 
dors." 9 "His book," the perfonal memoranda go on, "con- 
tains ineftimable material for a more minute and extended 
hiftory. It is a fort of fkeleton, the bone-work of the mon- 
archy. It muft be ftudied for the internal adminiftration, the 
financial fyftem, the domeftic politics, &c. ; — juft the topics 
neglected by Watfon and the like common, uncommonplace 
writers. The hiftorian of Philip the Second will be largely 
indebted to Ranke, to his original acutenefs and to his eru- 
dition." 

9 Since publifhed at Florence, under the able cditorfhip of the Cavalicrc Eugcnio Albert. 
37 



XX. 



JEt. 52. 



Begins inquiries 
about Philip 
the Second. 



Reads various 
books. 



Ranke's "Span- 
ish Empire." 



290 



XX. 



Mt. 52. 



Mr. Prefcott 
prints part 
of it. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



This portion of Ranke's work, therefore, became now to 
Mr. Prefcott what Clemencin's differtation on Queen Ifabella 
had been in the compofition of his Hiftory of the Catholic 
Sovereigns. Indeed, forefeeing from the outfet how important 
it would be, and finding it ill printed in the Englifh tranfla- 
tion, he caufed four copies of the part touching Philip the 
Second to be ftruck off on a large type, fo that, whenever his 
eye would permit the indulgence, he might recur to it as to 
his manual and guide. It makes in this form barely one hun- 
dred and fixty-eight pages in octavo; and being printed on 
thick paper and only on one fide of each leaf, fo as to render 
every letter perfectly diftincl:, it was as well fitted to its peculiar 
purpofe as it could be. Probably he never looked on it for 
ten minutes together at any one time ; but we have already 
noticed how thoughtful and ingenious he was in whatever 
related to the means of encountering the many obftacles laid 
in his way by his great infirmity, and how little he cared for 
money or eafe when anything of this fort was to be accom- 
plished. This reprint of Ranke was, in truth, one of his 
contrivances for an end that never was long abfent from his 
thoughts. 




9i 




CHAPTER XXI. 

1848 -1850. 

General Scoffs Conqueft of Mexico. — Summer at Pepper ell. — Difficul- 
ties and Doubts about "Philip the Second" — Memoirs or regular 
Hi/lory. — Anxiety about his Hearing. — Journey for Health. — Not 
fufficient. — ProjecJ for vifiting England. — Refolves to go. — Voyage 
and Arrival. — London. 



I^VH^^HILE Mr. Prefcott was going on with his Chap. XXI, 




1S4S. 

JEt. 52. 



" Philip the Second " as well as he could, conlid- 
(5 ering the flow procefs for work to which he 
was now reduced,^ "dull failing," as he called 
it, — he was furprifed by a tempting invitation 
to write a hiftory of the Second Conqueft of|°~j[J22 )t J 
Mexico, — the one, I mean, achieved by General Winfield 
Scott in 1847. The fubjecl was obvioufly a brilliant one, 
making, in fome refpecls, a counterpart to the hiftory ol the 



ll|l 



292 



Chap. XXI. 



JEt. 52. 



1849. 

Pepperell. 



Anxiety about 
his fight. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



firft conqueft under Cortes ; and, as to the bookfelling refults 
that would have accrued from fuch a work glowing with the 
fervent life Mr. Prefcott's ftyle would have imparted to it, and 
devoted to the favorite national hero of the time, there can be 
no doubt they would have exceeded anything he had ever 
before dreamed of as the profits of authodhip. But his courfe 
in another direction was plainly marked out, and had long been 
{o. Contemporary events, tranfient and unfettled interefts, 
perfonal feelings and ambitions, had never entered into his 
eftimates and arrangements for a literary life. He felt that 
he mould hardly know how to deal with them. He therefore 
declined the honor, — and an honor it certainly was, — without 
hefitation. " The theme," he faid, " would be taking ; but I 
had rather not meddle with heroes who have not been under 
ground two centuries at leaft." l 

His weeks at Pepperell in the fubfequent autumn of 1849 
were agreeable, as they always were, but not as fruitful of lit- 
erary refults as they had been in many preceding years. " The 
delicious ftillnefs of the fields," he writes foon after his emigra- 
tion there from Nahant, " is moft grateful after the inceffant, 
reftlefs turmoil of the ocean, whofe melancholy beat makes 
no mufic like the wind among the boughs of the foreft. The 
fweet face of Nature is the only face that never grows old, — 
almoft the only one that we never tire of." 

But in truth the trouble lay deeper. He could do little 
work. His eyes were in a very bad ftate, and fometimes 
occafioned him much fuffering. He therefore was able to 
" Philippize," as he called it, very little ; and when he returned 
to town at the end of October, he recorded that he had had 
" a pleafant villeggiatura" but added : " The country is now 
dark with its fad autumnal fplendors. Is it not my true 
home? Monadnock and his brotherhood of hills feemed to 



1 He often exprefled this feeling. In 
a letter to me in 1856, he fays: "I be- 
long to the fixteenth century, and am quite 
out of place when I fleep elfewhere," — 
a remark which reminds one of old Bernal 



Diaz, who, it has been faid, wore his ar- 
mor fo long and fo conflantly in the con- 
quer!: of Mexico, that afterwards he could 
not fleep in comfort without it. 



Philip the Second. 



look gloomily on me as I bade them farewell. What may 
betide me of weal or woe before I fee them again ? " 

But this was not a permanent ftate of feeling with him. 
During that autumn and winter, he went flowly, but with 
much regularity, over the whole ground, which, as he forefaw, 
muft be occupied by a hiftory of Philip the Second and his 
times, endeavoring to get a bird's-eye view of it in its gen- 
eral relations and proportions without defcending to details. 
When he had done this, he felt that the time for a final 
decifion as to the nature and form which his labors mould 
take was come, and he made it promptly and decifively. 



indeed," he fays, looking back over the eighteen months' deliber- 
and confiderinf 



" I have, 
ation on this fubje£t, and confidering at the fame time the bad condition of his 
eyes and of his general health, — "I have, indeed, hardly felt courage to 
encounter the difficulties of a new work, de longue haleine, in my crippled ftate. 
But if I am crippled, I am not wholly difabled yet ; and I have made up my 
mind to take the fubjecl: — the whole fubje£t — of Philip the Second. I can, 
by a little forecaft, manage fo that it will coft me no more labor or refearch than 
a fraction of the fubjecl:, which I mould treat, of courfe, more in extenfo. I muft 
felecT: the moft important and interefting features of the reign, and bring thefe, 
and thefe only, into as clear a light as poffible. All the wearifome refearch into 
conftitutional, financial, ecclefiaftical details, I muft difcard, or at leaft go into 
them fparingly ; — only fo as to prefent a background to the great tranfa£tions 
of the reign. 

" The brilliant paflages are numerous, and muft be treated, of courfe, with 
reference to one another, as well as to their individual merit, fo as to preferve 
their refpecliive proportions, and harmonize into one whole. A dominant and 
central intereft for the mighty and richly varied panorama muft be ever kept in 
view. The character of Philip will be the dominant principle controlling every 
other; and his policy will be the central objecl: of intereft, to which almoft every 
event in the reign muft be in a great degree referred. That policy, doubtlefs, 
will be found to be the eftablimment of the Roman Catholic religion and of 
abfolute power. Thefe were the ends ever kept in view by him, and they muft 
be fo, therefore, by his hiftorian, as furnifhing the true clew to his complicated 
ftory. 

" There will be no lack of great events of the higheft intereft and the moft 
oppofite character ; the war with the Turks, and the glowing battle of Lepanto ; 
the bloody revolt of the Morifcos ; the conqueft of Portugal, and, preceding it, 
the Quixotic expedition of Don Sebaftian ; the tragic domeftic ftory of Don 
Carlos, and the myfterious adventures of Antonio Perez ; the Englifh invafion, 
and the gallant days of the Armada; and above all, and running through all, the 



293 



Chap. XXI. 

1848. 
JEt. 52. 



Helitation about 
his " Hiftory 
of Philip the 
Second." 



Philip the cen- 
tral character. 



Great events in 
his reign. 



294 



Chap. XXL 

1849. 
JEt. 52. 

Great character 
in his reign. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Doubts about 
the form of 
the work. 



Synopfis of it. 



glorious war of the Netherlands, — the war of freedom then begun and not yet 
ended. 

"As for portraits, great events call forth great men, and there is good ftore of 
them, — Don John of Auftria, frank and chivalrous ; the great Duke of Alva, 
a name of terror ; William of Orange, the Washington of Holland ; Farnefe, 
the greater! captain of his times ; Don Sebaftian, the theme for romance rather 
than hiftory ; contemporary foreign princes, Henry the Fourth, Elizabeth, &c, 
and at home Charles the Fifth in his latter days, of which fo little has hitherto 
been known ; and Philip the Second, the mafter-fpirit, who, in the dark recefles 
of the Efcorial, himfelf unfeen even by his own fubje&s, watches over the lines 
of communication which run out in every direction to the farther! quarters of 
the globe 

" I propofe to go on with fober induftry, — the feftina lente fort, — working 
fome four hours a day, and if the whole mould run to four volumes, which is 
enough, I may get out two at a time, allowing four years for each brace. Da, 
Jupiter, annos! But I muft mend my habits, or I fhall not get out a volume in 
as many centuries 

" I am not fure that it will not be better for me to call the work Memoirs, 
inftead of Hiftory, &c. This will allow a more rambling ftyle of writing, and 
make lefs demand on elaborate refearch, and fo my eyes and my tafte both be 
accommodated." 



To thefe general remarks he added, as he was wont in fuch 
cafes, a fynopfis or fummary of the whole work he was about 
to undertake, — one intended to fuggeft the different fubjects 
and points upon which he mould chiefly concentrate his atten- 
tion, but not intended to govern his treatment of the details. 
It was a fort of outline map, and was made in February, 
1849. 

But his doubts and anxieties at that time, and for a long 
while afterwards, were very confiderable, both as to the form 
of his work, whether memoirs or hiftory, and as to the amount 
of labor which his advancing years and infirmities might 
warrant him in hoping to beftow upon it. While his mind 
continued thus unfettled, he talked with me much on the 
embarraffments he felt, and I endeavored to ftrengthen him 
in a purpofe of taking up the whole fubjecl: under the graveft 
forms of regular hiftory, and treating it with abfolute thor- 
oughnefs as fuch ; anxious neither as to how flow his progrefs 
might be, nor how laborious it might prove. 



At Nahant. 



One ground of my judgment at that time 2 — but unhappily 
one which failed at laft — was, that I counted upon a long life 
for him, like that of his father and of his mother. But I felt, 
too, whether he lived many years, as I fondly hoped, or few, 
that the moft aclive and earneft occupation of his faculties was 
neceffary to his own happinefs, and that he would become dif- 
contented with himfelf, if he mould not fulfil his own idea of 
what his fubjecl: implied in its wideft and moft ferious requifi- 
tions. I did not, in fhort, believe that he would be fatisfied to 
write Memoirs of Philip the Second after having written the 
Hijiory of Ferdinand and Ifabella. Nor did I believe that 
fcholars or the public would be better fatisfied than he would 
be himfelf. 

He expreffes his ftate of mind on this fubjecl: in his memo- 
randa : — 

June 28th, 1849. — At Nahant, where we arrived on the 23d, after a week 
of tropical heats in town, that gave me the dyfpepfia. Thefe fummer months 
were once my working months. But now, alas ! all times and places are alike 
to me. I have even ceafed to make good refolutions, — the laft infirmity of 
feeble minds. Since laft fummer, what have I done ? My real apology for 
doing nothing is ftill my health, which hedges me round, whichever way 
I attempt to go. Without eyes I cannot read. Yet I conftantly try to do 
fomething, and as conftantly ftrain the nerve. An organic trouble caufes me 
pain, if I fit and write half an hour, fo that I am baffled and difheartened, and 
I find it impofjible (fhall I fay the coward's word ?) to get up a lively intereft, — 
the intereft I felt in happier days in my hiftorical labors. 

Yet I am determined to make one ferious trial before relinquifhing the 
glorious field, on which I have won fome laurels, and on which I had promifed 
myfelf a long career. I will make up my mind to difpenfe with my eyes nearly 
all the time. I will dictate, if I cannot write. I will fecure three hours every 
day for my work, and, with patience, I may yet do fomething. 3 

I will not feek to give that minute and elaborate view of the political and 
economical refources of the country which I attempted in " Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella," and for which I have fuch rich materials for this reign. But I muft 
content myfelf with a more defultory or a pi£turefque view of things, developing 
character as much as poflible, illuftrating it by the anecdote, and prefenting the 



295 



Chap. XXI. 

1849. 
At. 53. 

Reafons for 
making it a 
hiftory and 
not memoirs. 



2 This was in 1849. He did not de- 
termine to write a hiftory rather than me- 
moirs, until he came to the troubles in the 
Netherlands, in October, 1851. And the 
change of purpofe is to be noted after 



page 360 of the firfl volume of the Ameri- 
can edition. 

3 He did not, in fad, fucceed in get- 
ting fo much work as this out of himfelf 
in the fummer and autumn of 1849. 



Unable to work 
well. 



Will make an 
effort. 



296 



Chap. XXL 

1849. 
JEt. 53. 

But not to be 
profound or 
elaborate. 



Finds it hard to 
begin. 



Begins at Na- 
hant. 



Goes to Pepper- 
ell. 



Winter in Bof- 
ton. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



general features of the time and the court. The work in this way, though not 
profound, may be amufing, and difplay that philofophy which confifts in the 
development of human paffion and character. 

Great events, told with fimplicity, will intereft the reader, and the bafis on 
which the narrative throughout will reft will be of the moft authentic kind, 
enabling me to prefent fa£ts hitherto unknown, and, of courfe, views and de- 
ductions not familiar to the ftudent of hiftory. The book will lofe much of 
its value compared with what it might have had under happier aufpices ; but 
enough may remain to compenfate both the reader and myfelf for the time 
beftowed on it. But, then, I muft proceed on the right principle ; content with 
accomplifhing what the embarrafTments of my fituation will permit me to accom- 
plifh, without aiming at what, by its difficulties, would difguft me in its progrefs, 
and by its failure in the end bring only mortification and chagrin. I will try. 

The conditions were hard, and the firft efforts he made to 
break ground were anything but cheerful or encouraging ; for 
his eyes were in a very bad ftate, and he was otherwife not a 
little difordered. After an experiment of nearly a month, he 
fays : — 

Looked over various works for an introductory chapter. Worked about three 
hours per diem, of which with my own eyes (grown very dim, — alas ! per- 
ceptible in this ftrong light) about thirty minutes a day. I can manage with this 
to make progrefs on a lefs fearching plan of ftudy. Am now prepared to think. 
But after this long repofe, the bufinefs of fixing thought is incredibly difficult. 
It muft be done. 

And it was done. On the 29th of July, 1849, at Nahant, he 
records : " Laft Thurfday (July 26th), at 6 P. M., began the 
compofition of Chapter Firft of ' Philip the Second,' whether 
memoirs or hiftory time will mow. Heavy work this ftarting. 
I have been out of harnefs too long." 

At Pepperell, where he went with his accuftomed eagernefs 
on the 6th of September, his eyes were rather worfe than they 
had been at Nahant, and he was more troubled with dyfpepfia 
and his other chronic ailments. But he worked, againft wind 
and tide, as earneftly, if not as hopefully, as if both had been 
in his favor. 

On his return to town, about the end of October, he talked 
with me afrefh concerning his plans in relation to " Philip the 
Second," of which he had been able to complete only two 



Fears Loss of Hearing. 



chapters. On the whole, he was confirmed in his decifion 
that he would take the entire reign of that monarch for his 
fubjec~t, and not any epifode of it, however brilliant, like the 
war with the Turks, or the fiege of Malta, or however im- 
portant, like the grand tragedy of the conteft with the Nether- 
lands. But he did not feel ftrong enough to make more of it 
than memoirs, as diftinguifhed from hiftory. On the firft point, 
I concurred with him entirely ; on the laft, I regretted his 
decifion, but fubmitted to it, if not as to fomething inevitable, 
at leaft as to a refult concerning which his health and years 
afforded grounds, of which he was to judge rather than any- 
body elfe. 

His decifion, however, which feemed then to be final, had 
one good effect immediately. He worked more freely, and 
for a time made a degree of progrefs that fatisfied himfelf. 
But about Chriftmas his ftrength began to fail. He loft nefh 
vifibly, and his friends, though they certainly did not look on 
the ftate of his health with anxiety, yet felt that more than 
ordinary care had become necefTary. He himfelf did not 
fhare their feelings ; but he had other doubts and mifgivings 
more difheartening than theirs. In February, 1850, he faid : 
" Increafing intereft in the work is hardly to be expected, con- 
fidering it has to depend fo much on the ear. As I fhall have 
to depend more and more on this one of my fenfes, as I grow 
older, it is to be hoped that Providence will fpare me my hear- 
ing. It would be a fearful thing to doubt it." 

Happily he was never called to encounter this terrible trial. 
Not infrequently, indeed, a fufpicion occurred to him, efpe- 
cially about this period, that the acutenefs of his hearing was 
impaired, as, in truth, I think it was, but in fo fmall a degree, 
that he was rarely admonifhed of it, even by his own fears, 
and certainly never fo much as to interfere with the courfe 
which his ftudies neceflarily took. But whenever the thought 
came to him of what might poflibly be the refult in this re- 
flect, darknefs feemed to fettle on his thoughts; and, although 
his elaftic fpirits foon obtained the maftery, it was not until 
38 



297 



Chap. XXI. 



JEt. 53. 



Determines to 
write memoirs 
and not hif- 
tory. 



Health fails. 



Fear of deafnefs. 



Not well found 
ed. 



298 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 53. 



Vifits Wafhing- 
ton. 



Hofpitable re- 
ception there. 



Is little able to 
enjoy it. 



Return home. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



after a ftruggle fuch as they had not heretofore been fummoned 
to make. A few of my converfations with him on this Sub- 
ject were among the moll painful that I remember ever to 
have had. But the moft painful of them were later, in the 
laft two years of his life. 

In the early fpring of 1850, finding that he was lefs able 
to work than he had previoufly been, and that he could not 
command his thoughts for the concentrated efforts he had 
always found important to fuccefs, he made a journey south- 
ward, to anticipate the milder feafon. He was accompanied 
by his daughter, by Mrs. Charles Amory, by Mrs. Howland 
Shaw, and by his brother-in-law, Mr. William Amory, — a 
party as agreeable as affection and friendfhip could have col- 
lected for him. I chanced to be in Washington when he 
arrived there, and was witnefs to the pleafure with which he 
was everywhere received. All forts of hofpitalities were offered 
to him by General Taylor, then Prefident of the United States ; 
by the Calderons, his old and faithful friends ; by the Britifh 
Minifter, Sir Henry Bulwer ; by our own great New-England 
ftatefman, Mr. Webfter, who had always entertained the fincer- 
eft veneration for the elder Mr. Prefcott, and always welcomed 
the fon as worthy of his anceftry ; in fhort, he was received 
by whatever was eminent in the diplomatic fociety of Wafh- 
ington, or among thofe collected there to adminifter our own 
affairs, with a distinction not to be miftaken or mifinterpreted. 
His friends fought eagerly to enjoy as much of his fociety as 
he could give them, and ftrangers gladly feized the opportunity 
to know perfonally one with whom in fo many other ways 
they were already familiar. But he was little in a condition 
to accept the kindnefs which under different circumftances 
would have been fo pleafant to him. He was not well. He 
was not happy. He felt that he needed the comforts and the 
folace to which he was accuftomed at home. He remained 
in Washington, therefore, only a fhort time, and then returned 
to Bofton. 

The comforts of home, however, were not . all that he 



Embarks for England. 



needed. He needed a change of life for a time, — fomething 
that mould, as it were, renew, or at leaft refrefh and ftrengthen 
the refources of a conftitution which had fo long been touched 
with infirmities, not of the graveft fort, indeed, but yet con- 
ftantly fo preffing on the fprings of life, and fo exhaufting 
their elafticity, that neither his phyfical nor his mental fyftem 
was any longer capable of the fevere efforts which he had 
always claimed from them, and almoft always claimed with 
fuccefs. 

After fome time, therefore, the project of vifiting England, 
which he had partly entertained at different times for many 
years, but had conftantly rejected, recurred with new force. 
His friends, who had heretofore urged it on the ground of the 
perfonal enjoyment he could not fail to derive from fuch a 
vifit, now urged it on the ftronger ground of health, and of 
the fort of renovation which fo great a change of climate and 
of the modes of life and thought often give to the whole 
moral and phyfical conftitution at the age which he had now 
reached. He acknowledged the force of what they preffed 
upon him, but ftill he hefitated. His domeftic life was {o 
wifely regulated ; everything about him was fo carefully ad- 
jufted and adapted, by the watchfulnefs of affection, to his 
peculiar infirmities, and the wants they entailed on him ; in 
fhort, his condition in his own home, and with his daily occu- 
pations, was fo entirely fuch as demanded only gratitude to 
God, that he naturally felt unwilling to interrupt its long- 
fettled, even, and happy courfe. But the ftrong hours con- 
quered, as they always muft in what regards health and life. 
The reafons for a European excurfion grew every week more 
diftinct and decifive, and at laft he yielded. 

He embarked from New York the 22d day of May, 1850. 
On board the fteam-packet in which he took paffage he found, 
as he found everywhere, the kindnefs that was drawn out by 
the magnetifm of his own affectionate nature, and by his 
obvious infirmities, added to the ftrong intereft he had excited 
as an author. He was at once provided with readers for all 



299 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Increafed in- 
firmities. 



Projedr. for vifit- 
ing England. 



unwilling to 
go- 



But determines 
that it is ne- 
cefTary. 

Embarks for 
Liverpool. 



300 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 

^T. 54. 

Voyage and 
friends. 



Arrival. 



Mr. Alexander 
Smith. 



Journey to Lon- 
don. 



Lady Lyell. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



the hours when he was well enough to liften, and among 
them were fome members of the Middleton family of South 
Carolina, who were connections of his old claffmate, and who 
became at once not only interefting and agreeable companions, 
but perfonal friends. Notwithstanding, therefore, the ufual 
tribute of fea-licknefs, which he paid like others, and com- 
plained of as bitterly, his paffage was far from being difa- 
greeable. 

Juft fo it was when, at midnight, on Monday, the 3d of 
June, the veffel on which he was embarked arrived in the 
Merfey, at Liverpool. The firft voice he heard through the 
darknefs, from a boat which came alongfide five minutes after 
the fteamer's anchor had been dropped, was that of an Englifh 
friend whofe face he had not feen for three and thirty years, 
but whofe regard had furvived unimpaired from the days 
when they had been together almoft as boys in Italy. At the 
houfe of that friend, Mr. Alexander Smith, he found at 
once an affectionate reception, and remained there hofpita- 
bly entertained until two days later, when he hurried up to 
London. 

" On Wednefday, June 5th," he fays in his fecond letter to Mrs. Prefcott, 
" I came by railway to c London town,' through the Englifh garden, lawns of 
emerald green, winding ftreams, light arched bridges, long lines ftretching out of 
fight between hedges of hawthorn, — all flowering, — ruftic cottages, lordly 
manfions, and fweeping woods ; flocks of fheep, and now and then peafants 
{hearing off the fat fleeces ; cattle of the Durham breed, but all more or lefs 
white, often wholly fo, — white as fnow ; the whole landfcape a miracle of 
beauty, all of the cultivated fort, too tame on the whole ; and before I reached 
the great leviathan, I would have given fomething to fee a ragged fence, or an 
old flump, or a bit of rock, or even a ftone as big as one's nil, to fhow that 
man's hand had not been combing Nature's head fo vigorously. I felt I was not 
in my own dear, wild America." 

London hofpitality had met him at Liverpool. Lady Lyell, to 
whom, like everybody elfe who was permitted to become really 
acquainted with her during her vifits to the United States, he 
was already much attached, had fent him charming words of 
welcome, which he received as he ftepped on more in the 



First Evening in London, 



301 



night. 4 Mr. Lawrence, too, his friend and kinfman, then 
American Minifter at the Court of St. James, had begged him 
in the fame way to be in feafon for a large diplomatic dinner 
which he was to give on the evening that Mr. Prefcott would 
naturally reach London. Others had, in other ways, fent falu- 
tations both courteous and cordial. It was all very flattering 
and kindly, and, accompanied as he was by his faithful and 
intelligent fecretary, Mr. Kirk, he did not, from the moment 
of his landing, feel for an inftant that he was either alone or 
upon a ftranger foil. 

On reaching London, he drove at once to Mivart's Hotel, 
where lodgings had been engaged for him ; but he had hardly 
alighted when Sir Charles Lyell entered and gave him his firft 
London greeting, which he loved always afterwards to remem- 
ber for its affectionate warmth. The dinner at Mr. Lawrence's 
he had declined, being too frefh from a long journey to enjoy it; 
but he took tea a little later with Lady Lyell, and went with 
her to the evening party at the Minifter's, which followed the 
more ferious dinner, and was, in fact, a part of it. His introduc- 
tion to much of what was moft diftinguifhed in Englifh fociety, 
including Lord Palmerfton and feveral others of the Minifters, 
could hardly have been more agreeable or more graceful. 

It was on this occafion that he firft faw the Milmans, with 
whom he had long felt acquainted, and to whom he foon be- 
came perfonally much attached. It was then, too, that he firft 



4 I add the anfwer to Lady LyelPs kind 
note, welcoming him to England. 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Liverpool, June 4, 1850. 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
I have juft received your kind note, in 
the midit of trunks, luggage (you fee my 
Yankee breeding), and all the other cuftom- 
houfe trumpery from which it is fo diffi- 
cult a matter, after a voyage, to difentangle 
one's felf. I am paffmg a day here with an 



old friend, and to-morrow mall take the 
eleven o'clock train for London. Many 
thanks for your agreeable invitation, which 
I mall have the pleafure of anfwering in 
perfon to-morrow evening. I have de- 
clined an invitation to dine with our Min- 
ifter, as I fhall not be in condition to dine, 
fo foon after my journey, with an array of 
Minifters and Minifters' ladies. But I fhall 
be in firft-rate condition for feeing friends 
whom I value fo much as you and your 
hufband. 

Pray remember me warmly to him, and 
believe me, my dear Lady Lyell, &c. 



Chap. XXI. 
1850. 

JEt. 54. 
Mr. Lawrence. 



Arrival in Lon- 
don. 



Sir C. Lyell. 



Mr. Lawrence. 



Firft Introduc- 
tions. 



Mr. and Mrs. 
Milman. 



302 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 

Lord Carlifle. 



Englifh wel- 
come. 



Vifit to Mr. and 

Mrs. Horner. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



faw the venerable mother of his friend Lord Carlifle, and 
many other perfons of diftindtion, his meeting with whom he 
often afterwards recalled with peculiar pleafure. But that with 
Lord Carlifle went to his heart, and well it might, for it was 
warmer than he intimates it to have been, even in a letter to 
Mrs. Prefcott, in which he fays, that it made him " feel as 
awkward as a young girl." A perfon who was prefent faid 
that Lord Carlifle almoft embraced him. But he remained at 
this firft London party only a little while. He was too tired 
after his journey. 

From this moment his table was covered with cards and 
invitations. His preference and pleafure were undoubtedly for 
the more cultivated and intellectual fociety which received him 
on all fides with earneft cordiality; but he was alfo the fafhion. 
He was invited everywhere. He was the lion of the feafon. 5 

His own letters to his family, and his more intimate friends, 
will mow this in the fimpleft and pleafanteft manner. 

TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 

London, Tuefday, June 1 1, 1850. 

Dearest Susan, 
I returned laft evening from a vifit to the Homers, Lady Lyell's parents and 
fifters, a very accomplimed and happy family-circle. They occupy a fmall houfe, 
with a pretty lawn ftretching between it and the Thames, that forms a filver 
edging to the clofe-lriaven green. The family gather under the old trees, on 
the little fhady carpet, which is fweet with the perfumes of flowering fhrubs, 
and you fee fails gliding by and ftately fwans of which there are feveral 
hundreds on the river. Any injury to thefe birds is vifited with a heavy penalty. 
The next day, Sunday, after dinner, — which we took at four, — we {trolled 



5 The Nepaulefe Princes were in Lon- 
don that year, and were much ftared at for 
their ftriking coftumes and magnificent dia- 
monds. Alluding to this circumflance, 
Mr. Lockhart, the nrft time he met Mr. 
Prefcott, faid, playfully, but not without a 
touch of the cynical fpirit always in him, 
that " he was happy to make the acquaint- 
ance of Mr. Prefcott, who, as he had 
heard, was the great lion of London, — 



he and the Nepaulefe Princes." " You 
forget the hippopotamus ! " retorted Mr. 
Prefcott. It was not, perhaps, the moft 
aufpicious and agreeable beginning of an 
acquaintance, but it did not prevent them 
from being a good deal together after- 
wards, and liking each other much. A 
parting dinner with Ford and Stirling at 
Lockhart's was always remembered by Mr. 
Prefcott as peculiarly gay and gratifying. 



Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



through Hampton Court and its roval park. The entrance to the park is not 
more than half a mile from Mr. H.'s houfe. We fpent a couple of hours 
in rambling over it, — a moft fuperb green lawn ftretching in all directions, 
covered with avenues of ftatelv trees planted in the time of William and Mary, 
moftlv the Englifh elm. Troops of deer were ltanding and lving idly round, 
and every now and then we ftarted a hare. Whole companies of rooks — a 
bird feen everywhere here — failed over the tops of the trees, — fuch trees ! In 
front of the old palace were broad red gravel walks through the green turf, with 
artificial balins of water. In fhort, the real fcene looked like the picture in our 
camera at Pepperell. Here was the favorite refidence of William and Mary, 
and of their predecelTor, the merry Charles the Second, whofe beauties, by the 
hands of Sir Peter Lelv, ftill decorate the walls. I fancied, as I ftrolled through 
the grounds, I could fee the gallant prince and his fuite fauntering among the 
lordlv avenues, plaving with his fpaniels and tolling crumbs to the fwans in the 
waters. We walked home at twilight, hearing the nightingale at his evening 
fong, and the diftant cuckoo, founding lb like the little tov the children plav 
with ! 

The next day we had our picnic at Box-Hill, — a fweet, romantic fpot in 
Surrev, on a high hill, looking over half the country, and fragrant with the odors 
of the box, which rifes here into trees. There was a collection of feven and 
twenty perfons in all, friends of the family. So we fpread our cloth in 
a fhadv fpot, and produced our ftores of good things, and with the aid of a little 
of the fpiritual with the material, we had a merry time of it. T A 



30 


3 


Chap. 


XXL 


185 


0. 


JEt. 


54- 


Hamptor 


1 Court 



Picnic at Box- 
Hill. 



will tell 



all about it, as he returns 



by the next fteamer 
s return by it alfo. 



fo he intends, at 
To think that I 



His fon William 



leaft, at the prefent moment. The P- 

fhould have milled them ! William was at juft fuch a picnic laft year, and 
I heard many kind things of him. He made fome good friends here, and left 
everywhere, I believe, a good impreffion. I have written to our Minifter at 
Madrid to look him up, for I have not vet heard from him. Unlucky enough ! 
but I think he mult, foon turn up. 6 

Friday noon. 

I have fo many things to tell you of fince my laft date, and fo little time to Evening party. 
do it in, dear Sufan, that I don't know which to take, — the Afcot races, dinner 
at Sir Robert Peel's, — or I will begin (probably end) with the vifit to 

Ladv S 5, which I was about to make when I left ofF. I went at eleven, 

and found myfelf in the midft of a brilliant faloon, filled with people, amongft 
whom I could not recognize one familiar face. You may go to ten parties in 
London, be introduced to a fcore of perfons in each, and in going to the eleventh 
party not fee a face that you have ever feen before ; fo large is the fociety of the 
Great Metropolis ! I was foon put at my eafe, however, by the cordial reception 
of Lord and Lady C , who prefented me to a number of perfons. 



6 The reference is to Mr. Prefcott's 
eldeft fon, who had been fome time in Eu- 
rope, but with whom Mr. Prefcott had 
found it difficult to come into communica- 



tion at this time. The fon did not yet 
know that his father had thought of leaving 
America, and he was, in fa£t, now in Af- 
rica. 



3<H 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Duke of Wel- 
lington. 



Dinner at Sir 
Robert Peel's. 



Pifture-Gallery. 



Autographs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



In the crowd I faw an old gentleman, very nicely made up, ftooping a good 
deal, very much decorated with orders, and making his way eafily along, as all, 
young and old, feemed to treat him with deference. It was the Duke, — the old 
Iron Duke, — and I thought myfelf lucky in this opportunity of feeing him. 

Lord C alked me if I would like to know him, and immediately preferred 

me to him. He paid me fome pretty compliments, on which I grew vain 
at once, and I did my beft to repay him in coin that had no counterfeit in it. 
He is a ftriking figure, reminding me a good deal of Colonel Perkins in his 
general air,7 though his countenance is frefher. His aquiline nofe is ftrongly 
cut, as in earlier days, when I faw him at the head of his troops in Paris, and 
his large forehead has but few wrinkles. He does not mow the wear and tear of 
time and thought, and his benevolent expreilion has all the iron worked out of 
it. He likes the attention he receives in this focial way, fpending half an hour 
in working his way quietly through the rooms, and, having received the general 
homage, difappears. He wore round his neck the ribbons and ornaments of the 
Golden Fleece, and on his coat the diamond-ftar of the Order of the Garter. 
He is in truth the lion of England, not to fay of Europe, and I could not take 
my eyes off him while he remained. 

We had a ftately dinner at Sir Robert's, — four and twenty guefts. He 
received us in a long picture-gallery. The windows of the gallery at one end 
look out on the Thames, its beautiful ftone bridges with lofty arches, Weft- 
minfter Abbey with its towers, and the living panorama on the water. The 
oppofite windows look on the Green Gardens behind the palace of Whitehall, — 
gardens laid out by Cardinal Wolfey, and near the fpot where Charles the Firft 
lived and loft his life on the fcaffbld. The gallery is full of mafterpieces, 
efpecially Dutch and Flemifh, — among them the famous Chapeau de Paille, 
which coft Sir Robert over five thoufand pounds, or twenty-two thoufand dollars. 
In his dining-room are alfo fuperb pictures, — the famous one by Wilkie, of 
John Knox preaching, which did not come up to the idea I had formed from the 
excellent engraving of it ; and Waagen, the German critic, who was there, told 
me, as I faid this to him, that I was perfectly correct in the judgment. So 
I find I am a connoifTeur ! There was a portrait of Dr. Johnfon, by Reynolds, 
— the portrait owned by Mrs. Thrale, and engraved for the Dictionary. What 
a bijou ! 

We fat at dinner, looking out on the moving Thames. We dined at eight, 
but the twilight lingers here till half paft nine o'clock at this feafon. Sir Robert 
was exceedingly courteous to his guefts ; told fome good ftories, at which fome 
laughed immoderately ; fhowed us his pictures, his collection of autographs, &c. 
He has the celebrated letter, written by Nelfon, in which he favs, " If I die, 
frigate will be found written on my heart." 8 



7 The refemblance to the Duke of Wel- 
lington of the late Colonel Thomas H. 
Perkins, already referred to as a munificent 
merchant of Bofton, was often noticed and 
very obvious. 



8 An anecdote, of this dinner, connected 
with an account of another, is happily 
given by Mr. Stirling, in a little memoir 
of Mr. Prefcott, which was originally 
publifhed in " Frafer's Magazine," for 



Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



Is not this a fine life ? I am moft fincerely tired of it. Not that I do not 
enjoy the focial meetings, and there are abundant objects of intereft. But I am 
weary of the diflipation, and would not exchange my regular domeftic and 
literary occupations in the good old Puritan town for this round of heedlefs, 
headlefs gayety, — not if I had the fortune of the Marquis of Weftminfter, the 
richeft peer in England. It is hard work to make a life of pleafure. Where- 



March, 1859, an< ^ was fubfequently print- 
ed privately, with additions. 

". Amongfl the many occafions when it 
was the good fortune of the author of this 
fketch to meet Mr. Prefcott, there is one 
which has efpecially flamped itfelf on his 
memory. It was on a delightful fummer 
day, at a dinner given at the ' Trafalgar,' 
at Greenwich, by Mr. Murray, of Albe- 
marle Street. Of that fmall and well- 
chofen circle, the brighter! lights are, 
alas ! already quenched. The feilive hu- 
mor of Ford will no more enliven the 
fcene he loved lb well ; nor will the wit 
of Lockhart and the wifdom of Hallam 
ever more brighten or adorn banquets like 
that at which they met their fellow-labor- 
er from the New World. Everything 
was in perfection, — the weather, the 
preliminary flroll beneath the great chefl- 
nut-trees in Greenwich Park, the cool 
upper room with its balcony overhanging 
the river, the dinner, from the prefatory 
water-fouchy to the ultimate devilled white- 
bait, the affortment, fpirits, and conver- 
fation of the guefls. On our return to 
town in the cool of the fummer night, it 
was the good fortune of the prefent writer 
to fit befide Mr. Prefcott, on the box of 
the omnibus which Mr. Murray had char- 
tered for his party. It was there that the 
hiflorian related to him the fortunes of his 
firft hiflorical work, as told above. He 
likewife defcribed with great zeft a more 
recent incident of his life. Some days 
before that, he had dined with the late Sir 
Robert Peel. With the punctuality which 
was very noticeable amidfl all the buflle 
of Mr. Prefcott's endlefs London engage- 
ments, he was in Whitehall gardens at the 
precife moment indicated on the card of 
invitation. It followed, as a natural refult, 
39 



that he was for fome minutes the fole oc- 
cupant of the drawing-room. In due time, 
Sir Robert walked in, very bland and a 
little formal, fomewhat more portly than 
he appeared on the canvas of Lawrence, 
fomewhat lefs rotund than he was wont to 
be figured in the columns of Punch. Al- 
though not perfonally known to his hofl, 
Mr. Prefcott took for granted that his 
name had been announced. It was to his 
great furprife, therefore, that he found 
himfelf addreffed in French. He replied 
in the fame language, inly mufing whether 
he had been miflaken for fomebody elfe, 
or whether to fpeak French to all perfons 
from beyond the fea was the etiquette of 
Britifh rtatefmanfhip, or the private pre- 
dilection of Peel. After fome introductory 
topics had been got over, he was flill 
further myftified by finding the dialogue 
turned towards the drama, and being com- 
plimented on his great fuccefs in that un- 
familiar walk of letters. The aflonifhed 
hiflorian was making the reply which his 
native modefly dictated, when a fecond 
guefl, a friend of his own, entered, and 
addreffed both of them in Englifh. Mr. 
Prefcott had been miflaken for M. Scribe, 
— a blunder ludicrous enough to thofe 
who know the contrail that exifled be- 
tween the handfome perfon of the hiflo- 
rian, and the undiflinguifhed appearance of 
the mofl prolific of modern playwrights. 
By a curious chance, M. Scribe did not 
arrive until a large party of political and 
literary celebrities were feated at dinner, 
and Mr. Prefcott concluded his flory by 
remarking on the graceful kindnefs with 
which Sir Robert hallened to meet him 
at the door, and fmoothed the foreigner's 
way to a place amongll ilrangers." 



305 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
^Et. 54. 

London Society. 



306 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Young ladies in 
fociety. 



Afcot races. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



ever you go, you fee wealth, fplendor, and fafhion, — horfes, carriages, houfes, 
all brilliant and gorgeous ; — but nothing like repofe, and not always good tafte. 
All feem to be eagerly purfuing the goddefs Pleafure, — hard to be caught, and 
vanifhins; in the grafp. If I could bring it with a wifh, Auguft 15th would be 
here in lefs than no time,9 — and then, Ho for Yankee-land ! Mr. Rogers has 
juft fent me a mefTage to fay, that he muft at leaft make hands with me. How 
kind is this ! although his houfe is crowded with vifitors, he fees no one but his 
phyficians. 

Remember me kindly to George and Anna, and to any other friends. Kifs 
mother and Lizzy, and believe me, deareft, 

Your loving hufband, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MISS PRESCOTT. 



London, June 14, 1850. 



My dear Lizzie, 

As your mother tells me that you are to write me this week, I will do the 
fame good turn to you. What mall I tell you about ? There are fo many 
things that would intereft you in this wonderful city. But firft of all, I think 
on reflection, you judged wifely in not coming. You would have had fome 
lonely hours, and have been often rather awkwardly fituated. Girls of your age 
make no great figure here in fociety. One never, or very rarely, meets them 
at dinner parties, — and they are not fo numerous in the evening parties as 
with us, unlefs it be the balls. Six out of feven women whom you meet 
in fociety are over thirty, and many of them over forty and fifty, — not to 
fay fixty. The older they are, the more they are dreffed and diamonded. 
Young girls drefs little, and wear very little ornament indeed. They have not 
much money to fpend on fuch coftly luxuries. At the Afcot races yefterday, 

I happened to be next to Lady , a very pleafing girl, the youngeft filter ot 

Lord . She feemed difpofed to bet on the horfes ; fo I told her I would 

venture anywhere from a fhilling to a fovereign. She faid (he never bet higher 
than a milling, but on this occafion would go as high as half a crown. So (he 
did, — and loft it. It was quite an exciting race, between a horfe of Lord 
Eglinton's, named "Flying Dutchman.," and a little mare of Lord Stanley's, 10 
named " Canezou." The former had won on feveral occafions, but the latter 
had lately begun to make a name in the world, and Lord Stanley's friends were 
eagerly backing her. It was the molt beautiful fhow in the world. 

Hut I will begin with the beginning. I went with the Lawrences. We 
went by railway to Windfor, then took a carriage to Afcot, fome half-dozen 
miles diftant. The crowds of carriages, horfes, &c. on the road hlled the air 
with a whirlwind of dult, and I mould have been blinded but for a blue veil 



9 The period at which he then pro- 
pofed to embark for home. 



Now (1862) the Earl of Derby. 



Letter to Miss Prescott. 



which was lent me to fcreen my hat and face. The Swedifh Minifter, who 
furnifhed thefe accommodations, fet the example by tying himfelf up. On reach- 
ing Afcot, we were admitted to the falon, which ftands againft the winning-poft, 
and which is occupied by the Queen, when there. It was filled with gay com- 
pany, all in high fpirits. Lord Stanley was looking forward to a triumph, though 
he talked coolly about it. He is one of the ableft, perhaps the ableft, debater in 
Parliament, and next Monday will make a grand affault on the Cabinet. This 
is the way he relieves himfelf from the cares of public life. I fufpecl: he was 
quite as much interefted in the refult of the race yefterday as he will be in the 
refult of the Parliamentary battle on Monday. 

The prize, befides a confiderable ftake of money from fubfcription, was a moft 
gorgeous filver vafe, the annual prefent of the Emperor of Ruflia for the Afcot 
races. It reprefents Hercules taming the horfes of Diomede, beautifully fculp- 
tured, making an ornament for a fideboard or a table, fome five feet in height, 
and eighteen inches fquare. What a trophy for the caftle of the Earl of Derby, 
or for the Eglinton halls in Scotland ! 

The horfes were paraded up and down before the fpecliators, — betting ran 
very high, — men and women, nobles and commoners, who crowd the ground 
by thoufands, all entering into it. Five horfes ftarted on a heat of two miles 
and a half. The little bay mare led off" gallantly, — " Flying Dutchman " 
feemed to lofe ground, — the knowing ones began to make, — and the odds 
rofe in u Canezou's " favor, — when, juft as they were within half a mile of the 
goal, Lord Eglinton's jockey gave his horfe the rein, and he went off in gallant 
ftyle, — not running, but touching the ground in a fucceffion of flying leaps that 
could hardly have brufhed the wet from the grafs, for it began to rain. There 
was a general fenfation ; bets changed; the cry was for the old favorite; and as 
the little troop mot by us, " Flying Dutchman " came in at the head, by the 
length of feveral rods, before all the field. Then there was a fhouting and con- 
gratulations, while the mob followed the favorite horfe as if they would devour 
him. He was brought directly under our windows, and Lady Eglinton felt, 
I have no doubt, as much love for him at the moment as for any of her 
children. It was a glorious triumph, and the vafe was hers, — or her lord's, 
whom I did not fee. Now I did not feel the leaft excited by all this, but 
excefiively tired, and I would not go to another race, if I could do it by walking 
into the next ftreet ; that is, if I had to fit it out, as I did here, for three mortal 
hours. How hard the Englifh fine people are driven for amufement ! 

Coming home, we drove through the royal park at Windfor, among trees 
hundreds of years old, under which troops of deer were lazily grazing, fecure 
from all moleftation. The Thames is covered with fwans, which nobody would 
dare to injure. How beautiful all this is! I wifh, dear Lizzie, you could have 
a peep at the Englifh country, with its fuperb, wide-ftretching lawns, its 
numerous flocks of fheep, everywhere dotting the fields, and even the parks in 
town, and the beautiful white cows, all as clean as if they had been fcrubbed 
down. England, in the country, is without a rival. But in town, the houfes 
are all dingy, and moft of them as black as a chimney with the fmoke. This 
hangs like a funeral pall over the city, penetrating the houfes, and difcoloring the 



307 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Lord Stanley. 



The race. 



Windfor Park. 



The country in 
England. 



The town. 



3 o8 



!hap. XXI. 

1850. 
^Et. 54. 



Breakfaft with 
Mr. Milnes. 



'Drefs for pre- 
fentation at 
Court. 



St. James's. 



Dreffes. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



curtains and furniture in a very fhort time. You would be amufed with the gay 
fcene which the ftreets in this part of the town prefent. Splendid equipages fill 
the great ftreets as far as the eye can reach, blazing with rich colors, and filver 
mountings, and gaudy liveries. Everything here tells of a proud and luxurious 
ariftocracy. I fhall fee enough of them to-day, as I have engagements of one 
kind or another to four houfes, before bed-time, which is now with me very 
regularly about twelve, — fometimes later, but I do not like to have it later. 

Why have I no letter on my table from home ? I truft I fhall find one there 
this evening, or I fhall, after all, have a heavy heart, which is far from gay in 
this gayety. 

Your affectionate father, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



The account of his prefentation at Court is much in the fame 
ftyle with the laft. It is addreffed to Mrs. Prefcott, and, after 
an introduction on flight fubjecls, goes on as follows : — 

Thurfday, 6 P. M. 

Well, the prefentation has come off, and I will give you fome account of it 
before going to dine with Lord Fitzwilliam. This morning I breakfafted with 
Mr. Monckton Milnes, where I met Macaulay, — the third time this week. 
We had alfo Lord Lyttleton, — an excellent fcholar, — Gladstone, and Lord St. 
Germans, — a fenfible and agreeable perfon, — and two or three others. We 
had a lively talk ; but I left early for the Court affair. I was at Lawrence's 
at one, in my coftume : a chapeau with gold lace, blue coat, and white troufers, 
begilded with buttons and metal, — the coat buttons up, fingle-breafted, to the 
throat, — a fword, and patent-leather boots. I was a figure, indeed ! But I 
had enough to keep me in countenance. I fpent an hour yesterday with Lady 
M., getting inftructions for demeaning myfelf. The greater!: danger was, that I 
fhould be tripped up by my own fword. On reaching St. James's Palace we 
paffed up-ftairs through files of the guard, — beef-eaters, — and were mown into 
a large faloon, not larger than the great room of the White Houfe, but richly 
hung with crimfon filk, and fome fine portraits of the family of George the 
Third. It was amufing, as we waited there an hour, to fee the arrival of the 
different perfons, diplomatic, military, and courtiers. All, men and women, 
blazing in all their ftock of princely finery ; and fuch a power of diamonds, 
pearls, emeralds, and laces, the trains of the ladies' dreffes feveral yards in 
length ! Some of the ladies wore coronets of diamonds that covered the greater 
part of the head, others necklaces of diamonds and emeralds that were of a fize 

perfectly enormous. I counted on Lady 's head two firings of diamonds, 

rifing gradually from the fize of a fourpence to the fize of an Englifh milling, 

and thick in proportion. Lady had emeralds mingled with her diamonds, 

of the fineft luftre, as large as pigeon's eggs. The parure was not always in the 
beft tafte. The Duchefs of 's drefs was ftudded with diamonds along the 



Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



309 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Prefentat 



Lord Carlifle. 



border and down the middle of the robe, — each of the fize of half a nutmeg. 
The young ladies, a great many of whom were prefented, were dreffed generally 
without ornament. I tell all this for Lizzie's efpecial benefit. The company 
were at length permitted one by one to pafs into the prefence-chamber, — a room 
of about the fame fize as the other, with a throne and gorgeous canopy at the 
farther end, before which flood the little Queen of the mighty Ifle, and her con- 
fort, furrounded by her ladies in waiting. She was rather fimply dreffed, but he 
was in a Field-Marfhal's uniform, and covered, I fhould think, with all the 
orders of Europe. He is a good-looking perfon, but by no means fo good-look- 
ing as the portraits of him. The Queen is better looking than you might expect. 
I was prefented by our Minifter, according to the directions of the Chamberlain, 
as the hiftorian of Ferdinand and Ifabella, in due form, — and made my 
profound obeifance to her Majefty, who made a very dignified courtefy, as fhe 
made to fome two hundred others, who were prefented in like manner. Owing 
to there having been no drawing-room for a long time, there was an unufual 
number of prefentations of young ladies ; but very few gentlemen were prefented. 
I made the fame low bow to his Princefhip, to whom I was alfo prefented, and 
fo bowed myfelf out of the royal circle, without my fword tripping up the heels 
of my nobility. As I was drawing off, Lord Carlifle, who was ftanding on 
the edge of the royal circle, called me, and kept me by his fide, telling me the 
names of the different lords and ladies, who, after paying their obeifance to the 
Queen, paffed out before us. He faid, he had come to the drawing-room to fee 
how I got through the affair, which he thought I did without any embarraffment. 
Indeed, to fay truth, I have been more embarrafled a hundred times in my life 
than I was here, I don't know why ; I fuppofe, becaufe I am getting old. 

I paffed another hour in talking and criticizing, efpecially with Lady T , 

whom E D knew, and with Lady M H and Lord M , 

all of whom happened to gather in that part of the room. I had alfo fome talk 
with Sir Robert Peel and his wife, who has the remains of beauty, and whofe 
daughter, much admired, according to Lord C, has much beauty herfelf. 
I talked alfo for fome time with the old Iron Duke, who had more gold than 
iron about him to-dav, and looked very well, although his utterance is not per- 
fectly diftinct, and he is nightly deaf. 

After the drawing-room, I went at five to Stafford Houfe, the Duchefs of s 
Sutherland's, where I lunched, and fpent a couple of hours in rambling through 
the rooms of the magnificent palace ornamented with hundreds of the molt 
exquifite paintings and ftatues, and commanding a beautiful view of Hyde Park. 
Nothing can be more kind than the behavior of the whole of Lord C.'s 
relatives to me. Luckily for me, they are of the beft families in England. 
They treat me, one and and all, as if I were one of themfelves. What can be 
fo grateful to the wanderer in a foreign land, as to find himfelf at once among 
friends, who feem to be friends of an old ftanding ? If I were to tell you of the 
cordial and affectionate greetings they give me, I fhould feem more vain than 
I feem now, I fear, — if poffible. But you will feel that I am talking to you, 
and do not fay half I fhould if I were really talking. 

I am moft defirous to embark by September iff, but I muft fee four or five 



Gofiip at court 



Kindnefs of the 
Howard fam- 
ily. 



3io 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Projedls for th< 
country. 



Bifhop of Ox- 
ford. 



Lord Northamp- 
ton. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



fpecimens of Englifh country-life; and Parliament — confound it — will not rife 
before the middle of Auguft, unlefs the Miniftry are upfet, which may be. I have 
invitations to Lord Lanfdowne's, the Duke of Northumberland's, Lord Fitz- 
william's, the Duke of Argyll's, and all that kith and kin, — and feveral other 
places. Lord Carlille wants me to go firft to Caftle Howard, then to old 
Nawarth Caftle, on the borders, which he has entirely reftored fince the fire, 
and the family fpend fome weeks there. I am afraid all this will carry me into 
September. But if fo, I mail abridge fome of the vifits. I fhall try to embark 
by the firft of September. 



Your loving hufband, 



Wm. H. Prescott. 



To his mother he begins a letter in London, June 20th, but 
continues it from the Bifhop of Oxford's palace. 

Cuddefdon Palace, June 23. 

You will be furprifed at the date of my continuation, perhaps, dear mother. 
I am about feven miles from Oxford, at the refidence of the Bifhop, called 
Cuddefdon Palace ; a very old building, and the manfion occupied from ancient 
times by his predecefibrs. The prefent Bifhop is the fon of the famous Wilber- 
force. He is a very handfome man, polifhed in his manners, and an eloquent 
preacher. He invited me to ftay here two or three days. We have befides a dozen 
perfons in the houfe, — a brother bifhop, Thirlwall, who wrote the " Hiftory of 
Greece," an amiable and unpretending fcholar ; the Lawrences ; Lord and Lady 
Caftlereagh, &c. It is very convenient for me, as I am to-morrow to receive the 
degree of Doctor of Laws from Oxford Univerfity. The Marquis of Northamp- 
ton, 11 who is alfo here, is to receive a degree at the fame time, and a fpecial convo- 
cation has been called for the purpofe. After the ceremony we all lunch at the 
Vice-Chancellor's, and return in the evening to London. I came down to Oxford 
yefterday in the train with the Lawrences. The Bifhop was obliged unluckily to 
remain in London till this morning, to attend the chriftening of the laft royal infant. 
He had arranged, therefore, that we fhould dine with the Principal of one of the 
Colleges in Oxford, after which, at ten, we drove over to Cuddefdon. Lord 
Northampton and I came over together, and I found him a lively, fenfible per- 
fon, full of interefting anecdote. He has travelled a good deal, and is much 
connected with fcience and fcientific men. Before going to bed, the whole 
houfehold — guefts included — went to the chapel, a very pretty building 
erected by the prefent Bifhop, and heard the evening fervice, — very folemn, 
and parts of it chanted by the domeftics of the houfe. There are two chaplains 
attached to the eftablifhment. My bedroom looks out on a lawn, dotted with 
old trees, over whofe tops the rooks are failing and cawing, while a highly gifted 

11 Prefident of the Royal Society. He died the next year. 



Letter to his Mother. 



nightingale is filling the air with his melody. I am writing, you muft under- 
stand, at five o'clock in the afternoon, while the reft of the houfehold have gone 
to the afternoon fervice in the parifh church. I went there this morning, and 
heard the Bifhop preach. He arrived here from London, late laft night, after 
we had all retired to reft. The church is one I mould much like you to fee. 
It is of the greateft antiquity, — parts of it going back to the times of the 
Plantagenets, — to the reigns, indeed, of Henry the Third and John. Is not that 
a glorious antiquity ? We fat in the venerable pile, where prayer and praife 
had afcended for nearly feven centuries. The crumbling walls have been 
reftored by the prefent Bifhop, a man of great architectural tafte. The light 
ftreams in through the ftained panes, on which the arms and names of a 
long roll of bifhops, from the beginning of the fourteenth century, were colored. 
The fervice was performed with a ceremony quite Roman-Catholic. The 
chant was conducted by all the congregation, as it feemed to me, and a great 
deal of the fervice read by us was chanted. The fermon was adapted, or meant 
to be adapted, to a parifh church ; but I did not acquiefce in the views of the 
preacher, though the tones of his voice would have melted the moft obdurate 
heart. They ftarted an unfortunate urchin who had fallen afleep, and whom he 
paufed in his fermon to admoniih in a very paftoral but decided tone. There 
muft be little danger of the good Bifhop's flock going to fleep, I fhould think, 
with this fort of improvement of the difcourfe. In truth, he is fo eloquent that 
there muft be very little danger of it at any rate. I walked with fome of the 
ladies for a long while under the old elms in the grounds, after church. 

I wifh you could fee the pretty picture — the Englifh picture — under my 
window ; — the green lawn, as fmooth as velvet and of as deep a verdure. 
There are circular beds of rofes, and yellow and purple flowers, gayly fet out in 
one part of it, clumps of ftately elms and cypreffes, throwing maffes of fhadow 
over the turf, and feveral of the party, returned from church, ftretched out 
under the trees, while the great birds, the rooks, are wheeling in the air, and 
the woods are alive, as the evening fun is withdrawing his fiercer rays. For 
it has been " real " warm to-day. 

Cuddefdon ftands on a high terrace, and from the grounds, which are not 
extenfive, you have a wide view of the rich vale of the Ifis, as it winds through 
Oxfordfhire. The paftures are covered with white or white-ftreaked cattle, 
that look as if they had been groomed like horfes, fo clean and fhining are they, 
and flocks of fheep, that always fpeckle an Englifh landfcape. Then there is a 
beautiful chime of bells, that has twice fent its mufical echoes to-day over hill 
and dale, filling the air and the heart with a fober Sabbath melody. Then juft 
beyond the grounds, around the old church, lies the country churchyard, where 
reft the mortal part of many a brave foul that lived in the times of the Edwards 
and Henrys. What is there like thefe old links of Time, that bind us to the 
paft, — as much our paft as it is John Bull's ? 

To-morrow morning we go to Oxford, for the ceremony of Doftori%ing, 
which takes place in the theatre, before the Bigwigs. Our houfehold all go 
over to do us honor, and eat the Vice-Chancellor's lunch, who wrote me a 



311 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Sunday, and 
church. 



Rural fcenery. 



Cuddefdon. 



312 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Englifh hofpital- 
ity. 



Englifh fociety. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



note inviting me to bring my friends. So fare you well, dear mother. Pray be 
careful of your health. Do ftay, if you can, fome time with Sufan at Nahant. 
Give my love to her and Lizzie, with as many kifTes as you pleafe, and tell my 
dear wife fhe muft take this for her letter this time, as I intend to write to 
Ticknor. God blefs you all. 

Your affectionate fon, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



He was at Cuddefdon, as we have feen, partly in order to be 
near Oxford, when he was " called up " there, as the phrafe is, 
to be made a Doctor of Civil Law. Of this he gives a more 
diftincl account in the following letter than I find elfe- 
where. 



TO MR. TICKNOR. 



My dear George, 



London, June 26, 1850. 



I muft thank you for your kind letter by the Afia, which made her trip in ten 
days and a bittock. I had written to my mother from Oxford that I mould fend 
you a line by this fteamer ; fo you will confider me, if you pleafe, as quick on 
the trigger as yourfelf. 

Well, here I am in the hurry-fcurry of London, up to my ears in dances, 
dinners, and breakfafts, fome of the laft at 10 A. M., fome at 5 P. M., to 
fay nothing of luncheons, the moft beautiful of which that I have feen, was 
yefterday at Lanfdowne Houfe. I am booked up for dinners to the middle of 
July, and then I intend to ftop, as I may take a week for a trip to Holland, — 
the land of my hiftoric avenir. Meanwhile I have invitations of one kind or 
another, often three or four a day. So I (hall not go to fleep till bedtime 
certainly ; and I believe, though I have been here but three weeks, I have been 
induftrious enough to be able to form a pretty good judgment of the ftuff of 
which London fociety is made. On the whole, it is a very extraordinary kind 
of life, and, as far as health is concerned, agrees with me wonderfully. My 
eyes and many et-ceteras are improved, and even the digeftive organs, which 
muft form the great piece de refijiance in the battle, fo far come up to the mark 
glorioufly. Yet it is a life, which, were I an Englifhman, I fhould not defire 
a great deal of; two months, at moft, although I think, on the whole, the 
knowledge of a very curious ftate of fociety, and of fo many interefting and 
remarkable characters, well compenfates the bore of a voyage. Yet I am quite 
fure, having once had this experience, nothing would ever induce me to repeat 
it. As I have heard you fay, it would not pay. 

The world here are all in great agitation and fufpenfe as to the fate of the 
Miniftry. It hangs, you know, on the vote of the Commons on the Greek 



Letter to Mr. Ticknor. 



queftion. I will not trouble you with the details, with which vou are too good 
a reader of Englifh politics not to be familiar. I was in the Houfe of Peers at 
the grand charge of Lord Stanley, and have heard fome fpeeches in the Com- 
mons, but not the beft. If government do not get a majority of over thirty, at 
leaft, it is underftood they will go out, and then there will be fuch a fcramble, 
for they reign by the weaknefs and divifion of their opponents. The voting on 
this motion will, I imagine, caufe no lefs divifion in the government ranks. It 
is curious to fee the intereft mown by the women in political matters. 

What will intereft you more than the conteft is the aflault made fo brutallv 
by Brougham on your friend Bunfen. I was prefent, and never faw anything fo 
coarfe as his perfonalitv. He faid the individual took up the room of two ladies. 
Bunfen is rather fat, as alfo Madame and his daughter, — all of whom at laft 
marched out of the gallery, but not until eyes and glaffes had been directed to the 
fpot, to make out the unfortunate individual, while Lord Brougham was flying 
up and down, thumping the table with his fift, and foaming at the mouth, till all 
his brother-peers, including the old Duke, were in convulfions of laughter. 
I dined with Bunfen and Madame the fame day, at Ford's. He has fince received 
fcores of condoling vifits, as well as the moft conciliatory communications from 
Lord Palmerfton, &c, &c. It will, probably, end in providing a place for the 
Corps Diplomatique, who have hitherto been muffled with " diftinguifhed 
foreigners" into the vacant fpace around the throne. 

I returned day before yefterday from a vifit to the Bifhop of Oxford, Wilber- 
force, you know ; one of the beft-bred men, and moft pleafing in converfation, 
that I have met with. However canny he may be in his church politics, he is 
certainly amiable, for uniform good-breeding implies a facrifice of felf that is 
founded on benevolence. There was fome agreeable company at the houfe, 
among them a lady, very well read, the daughter of a Bifhop, who told me fhe 
had never heard the name of Dr. Channing ! I gave her a great fhock by telling 
her I was a Unitarian. The term is abfolutely fynonymous, in a large party 
here, with Infidel, Jew, Mohammedan \ worfe even, becaufe regarded as a wolf 
in fheep's clothing. 

On Monday morning our party at the Bifhop's went to Oxford, where Lord 
Northampton and I were Do&orized in due form. We were both drefted in 
flaming red robes (it was the hotteft day I have felt here) and then marched out 
in folemn proceflion with the Faculty, &c., in their black and red gowns, 
through the public ftreet, looking, that is, we^ like the victims of an auto de fe; 
though, I believe, on fecond thoughts, the fan benito was yellow. The houfe 
was well filled by both men and women. The Archaeological Societv is hold- 
ing its meetings there. We were marched up the aifle ; Profeffor Phillimore 
made a long Latin expofition of our merits, in which each of the adjectives 
ended, as Southey faid in reference to himfelf on a like occafion, in ijjlinus ; and 
amidft the cheers of the audience we were converted into Doctors. We lunched 
with the Vice-Chancellor, who told me I fhould have had a degree on Commem- 
oration-day, the regular day ; but he wrote about me to the Dean of St. Paul's, 
40 



313 



Chap. XXI. 



JEt. 54. 

Englifh politics. 



Lord Brough- 
am's rudenefs 



Bifhop of Ox- 
ford. 



Horror of Uni- 
tarianifm. 



Degree of Doc- 
tor conferred 



3*4 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Lord Northamp 
ton. 



Rogers. 



Macaulay. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



who was abfent from town, and fo an anfwer was not received until too late. 
He did not tell me that the principal object of the letter was to learn my faith, 

having fome mifgivings as to my herefy. M wrote him word that he thought 

my books would be found to be vouchers enough for me to obtain a degree. So 
a fpecial convocation was called, and my companion in the ceremony was a 
better man than a military chief, like Lord Gough. I like Lord Northampton 
very much. He was at the Bifhop's, and we drove together from Cuddefdon 
to Oxford. 12 He is a man of very active mind. He told me fome good 
anecdotes ; among others, an anfwer of the Duke to a gentleman who afked him 
if he had not been furprifed at the battle of Waterloo. The Duke coldly 
replied, " I never was furprifed, as well as I can remember, till now, in my 
life." Did you ever hear of his fine anfwer to a lady who was glorifying his 
victories ? " A victory, ma'am, is the faddeft thing in the world, except a 
defeat." Now that Sidney Smith is gone, Rogers furnifhes the niceft touches 
in the way of repartee. His converfation, even in his dilapidated condition, on 
his back, is full of fait, not to fay cayenne. I was praifing fomebody's good- 
nature very much. " Yes," he faid, " fo much good-nature, that there is no 
room for good-fenfe." Perhaps you have heard of a good thing of Rogers's, 
which Lord Lanfdowne told me the other day he heard him fay. It was at Lord 
Holland's table, when Rogers afked Sir Philip Francis (the talk had fome allufion 
to Junius) if he, Sir Philip, would allow him to afk a certain queftion. u Do fo 
at your peril," was the amicable reply. " If he is Junius," faid Rogers in an 
undertone to his neighbor, " he muft be Junius Brutus." 

Since writing the preceding, I have pafTed half an hour with Lockhart in his 
own quarters. He mowed me fome moft interefting memorials of Scott ; 
among the reft the diary, in which the trembling character, more and more 
trembling, and the tottering thoughts mowed the touch of apoplexy. Very 
affecting, is it not ? 

Macaulay has gone to Scotland to look over topography ; among the reft, the 
fcene of the maflacre of Glencoe. I have met him feveral times, and break- 
fafted with him the other morning. His memory for quotations and illuftration 
is a miracle, — quite difconcerting. He comes to a talk, like one fpecially 
crammed. Yet you may ftart the topic. He told me he fhould be delivered 
of twins on his next publication, which would not be till '53. I was glad to 
hear him fay this, though it will be a difappointment to brethren of the trade, 
who think a man may turn out hiftoricals, like romances and calicoes, by the 
yard. Macaulay's flrft draught — very unlike Scott's — is abfolutely illegible 
from erafures and corrections. He fhowed me a fheet juft written. I found 
cle as an abridgment of caftle, and all on that plan. This draft he copies j 
always, with alteration, &c. This fhows more care than I had fuppofed. He 
tells me he has his moods for writing. When not in the vein, he does not prefs 



12 Mr. Prefcott had already received 
more than one honorary degree at home ; 
but, with his accuftomed ingenuoufnefs and 
fimplicity, remembering how lavifhly and 



careleffly fuch diftinftions are conferred by 
moft of our American colleges, he could 
not reprefs his fatisfaction that he was 
" now a real Doctor." 



Letter to Mr. Ticknor. 



took him 
went on 
d'cfprit ? 



it. Johnfon, you remember, ridiculed this in Gray. H told me that Lord 

Jeffrey once told him that, having tripped up Macaulay in a quotation from 
" Paradife Loft," two days after Macaulay came to him and faid, " You will 
not catch me again in the Paradife " ; at which Jeffrey opened the volume and 
up in a great number of paffages at random, in all of which he 
correctly repeating the original. Was not this a miraculous tour 
Macaulay does not hefitate to fay now, that he thinks he could 
reftore the firft fix or (even books of the " Paradife " in cafe they were loft. 

The world here is agitated by the debate ftill going on in the Commons, on 
which the fate of the Miniftry depends. Lord Palmerfton made a moft able 
defence evening before laft. The Speaker fays he never heard one fuperior to 
it fince he has prefided there, nearly a dozen years. His wife heard the whole 
of it, and feems to feel the full glory which has come upon her hufband. Yet, 
although it has made a good rally for the party, the iffue is very doubtful. Day 
before yefterday I dined with your friend Kenyon. I found him kind and moft 
cordial. It is the firft time I have feen him ; no fault of his, for he has called, 
and repeatedly afked me to dine ; nor of mine, for I have called alfo. But 
meeting any particular body in London is a fmall chance, — too fmall to be 
counted on by any perfon. I have feen much of the Milmans and Lyells. 
Nothing can be kinder. Lord Carlifle and his whole kith and kin, ditto. Thefe 
I had fome right to count upon, but, in truth, the expreftions of kindnefs from 
utter ftrangers have been what I had no right to anticipate. I avail myfelf fo 
much of this friendly feeling that I flatter myfelf I {hall fee as much of London 
(the interior) in fix weeks as moft of its inhabitants would in as many months. 
Twice this week I kept my ground in the ball-room till ghoft-time had paffed, 
once till an hour after dawn. Am I not a faji boy ? 

Of all the notabilities no one has ftruck me more than the Iron Duke. His 
face is as frefh as a young man's. He ftoops much and is a little deaf. It is 
interefting to fee with what an affectionate and refpectful feeling he is regarded 
by all, — not leaft by the Queen. 

Do you know, by the way, that I have become a courtier, and affecl: the royal 
prefence ? I wifh you could fee my gallant coftume, gold-laced coat, white 
inexpreffibles, filk hofe, gold-buckled patent flippers, fword, and chapeau, &c. 
This and my Cardinal's robe on Monday ! Am I not playing the fool as well 
as my betters ? No wonder that the poet who lived in London fhould find out 
that " The world 's a ftage, and all the men," &c. But I muft conclude this 
long talk, fo pleafant with a dear friend, but not without thanking you for fo 
kindly condenfing my character into twelve hundred words ; better than if you 

had had more words allowed to tell it in. 1 3 L , in the hafte of my departure, 

afked if he could not refer to fome one, and I told him you ; for I had rather be 
in your hands than in any other man's alive. If I had not been in yours, 
I fhould have been in his. I hope to get fomething better than the paralyfis 



'J A notice of Mr. Prefcott, which I 
prepared for a publication at New York, 



entitled " Illuftrious Americans," where I of him. 



was limited to twelve hundred words, as 
it was only intended to explain a portrait 



315 



Chap. XXL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Englifh politics. 



Kenyi 



Englifh kind- 
nefs. 



Diflipation. 

Duke of Wel- 
lington. 



3i6 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Mr. and Mrs. 
Milman. 



Alifon. 



Ball at the pal- 
ace. 



Supper. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



effigy which L got of me an hour before failing, as I am engaged to fit for 

my portrait next week to an excellent artift, Richmond, in the fame ftyle as our 
Cheney, for Lord Carlifle ; a thing I did not expect to do again. 
With ever fo much love to Anna, and Anika, and little Lizzie, 
I remain, dear George, 

Always affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 

London, Sunday, June 30, 1850. 

Dearest Susan, 
I go this afternoon to the Dean of St. Paul's to lunch and hear his afternoon 
fervice in the great Cathedral. I mall call for our good friend Lady Lyell, and 
take her with me. What fhall I tell you of the paft week ? I will run over 
my engagements for yefterday and a day or two coming, that you may know my 
whereabouts, I was invited to a rural party at a Mrs. Lawrence's, Ealing Park, 
where went the Duke of Cambridge. But I could not go, having engaged to 
vifit Lambeth, the old palace of the Archbifhop of Canterbury, with my friends 
the Milmans. And friends they are ; I wifh you knew Mrs. M., you would fo 
like her. Her letter to me laft fummer was a fair index to her character. 

I received your letter, enclofing that of Amory, to whom I fhall write this 
week. But I write fo much to you, that it really leaves me little time for 
others. But writing to you is my chief happinefs, as it is talking with my beft 
friends, you and mother. Well, where was I ? At the Queen's. — (The 
fervant has juft brought me a note from Alifon, inviting me molt cordially 
to make his houfe in Glafgow my head-quarters, mould I vifit Scotland, where 
he goes in a day or two. That is kind from a brother of the craft.) — After 
fome of the company had paid their refpe£ts, dancing began. The Queen 
danced a quadrille very gracefully with the Prince of Pruffia. The crowd in the 
neighborhood of the Queen was intenfe, and the heat fuffocating. I ftrolled 
through the whole fuite of magnificent apartments, all filled with a blaze of beau- 
ty, fimply attired in the young, and of age bejewelled from head to foot, — the 
men in their picturefque diplomatic coftumes, or military or court-drefles blazing 
with diamond-croffes and ribbons, and noble orders. It was a gorgeous fight. 
At midnight we went to fupper, the Queen leading in the proceffion, while the 
whole band played the grand national air. The fupper-table ran through the 
whole length of the immenfe hall, the farther end of which was hung with gold 
or gilt fhields of great fize and lighted up with a thoufand lights. The reft of 
the room was in comparative darknefs. It was a grand ftage effecl:, which I did 
not much admire. The fervants ftood next to the wall. They were as many 
as could ftand at the tables, which at the end were united by a tranfverfe table. 
They were all gold and finery, fo that I felt very diffident of calling on them for 



Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



anything. The Queen kept her ftate at the head of the room, and, as well 
as her guefts, was on the infide of the tables. The fupper was magnificent, 
efpecially in fruits and confectionery. You know I have a failing in the way of 
confectionery, and the Englifh have varieties that would make the fortune of a 
Yankee. After fupper, dancing again, till I faw one young lady in a waltz 
before the Queen, who never waltzes, go down with a thump that I thought 
might have broken a bone. Two other couples had the like fate that evening. 
The floors are of hard wood and polifhed. At two her Majefty retired. So 
could not I ; for my carriage was more than an hour in getting to the door, and the 
daylight was broad in the ftreets before I laid my head on the pillow. There is 
the Court Ball ! And from one you may learn all. We are now in great ftir here 
for the accident which has befallen Sir Robert Peel ; I called there to-day, and 
left my card, as do half London. It is curious to fee the intereft excited. 
A police-officer is ftationed at the gates to prevent diforder, and bulletins are 
handed round to the crowd, containing the laft report of the phyficians. You 
will fee the particulars in the newfpapers. It is a ferious, very probably a fatal 
accident. 

July 3d. — Sir Robert Peel is dead ! The news has given a mock to the 
whole town. He died in his dining-room, — the very room where I was with 
him a fortnight ago. It feems a frivolous thing, this dining and dancing in the 
midft of death. I am getting a-weary of the life, I allure you. 

Fourth of July. — William came in upon me to-day at noon. He arrived in 
the Southampton fteamer from Gibraltar. He has been in Africa and Southern 
Spain, and, as his letters remained in Paris by his orders, he heard nothing of 
my being in London till he received a note from our Minifter in Madrid. He 
looks very well, juft as he did when he failed, except that he is as black as 
a Moor from the African fun. It was a merry meeting on both fides. He is 
very fimple and unaffected in his manners, and is full of his adventures. He 
has brought with him your daguerrotype, the fight of which, dear, was as 
welcome to me as the fight of him. He has left fome articles in Paris, and 
I think I mail let him run over there for a few days. On the 20th, I mall 
go with him for a week to Belgium ; then take him with me to a few country- 
places, and early in September I mall embark. If Parliament did not continue 
fitting till the middle of Auguft, I mould not be fo late. With love to mother 
and Lizzie, and to E. Dexter, 

I remain your loving hufband, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

My eyes are much better, and health generally very good. William com- 
pliments me by faying I look younger than when he left. 

I am now writing to Amory,H and mail fend the letters to-day. It is a fine 
day, and I go at noon on my expedition to Greenwich with Ford, Lockhart, 

f 4 His younger fon, William Amory Prefcott. 



317 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Dancing. 



Sir R. Peel. 



Arrival of his 
fon William 
in London. 



Projects. 



3i8 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Ladies long in 
fociety. 



Society in Lon- 
don. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Hallam, Stirling, Rawlinfon, Cummings the African lion-hunter, &c. William 
is to be one of the party. I fat up with him late laft night after my return 
from dinner, till one o'clock, hearing his Southern adventures, and indulging 
with him in the fume of cigars. 



TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 



Wednefday evening. — Juft returned from the Countefs Grey's. A fmall 
party of ten. I fat between two ladies, whofe united ages amounted to one 

hundred and fifty, Lady and Lady . There was alfo a charming 

lady there to whom I loft my heart, dear wife, fome three weeks fince. Don't 
be jealous, fhe is over feventy, — Lady Morley, a moft natural, lively, benevolent 
body. I know you would like her. I really think the elder bodies here are 
very charming. In facl:, nobody is old. I have not feen any up to one I have 
left in Beacon Street. What a delightful letter from mother ! Your letters of 



June 30th came in this afternoon. I have fent your nice little notes to Lady 
Lyell and Mrs. Smith. How good it was in them to write ! Your note to me 
was a fhabby one. You muft not write the lefs that others write. I mall 
anfwer Anna Ticknor by a good letter this mail for her kindnefs in thinking 
of me. 



TO MRS. TICKNOR. 



Lond< 



l> J u iy 



1850. 



Thank you, my dear Anna, for fo kindly thinking of me in the practical way 
of a letter. I knew your fuperfcription before I broke the feal, and it was "good 
for fair e'en." I did mean to anfwer you with a bigger letter, but on returning 
home this evening after a vifit to the city, I found my friends here had cut out 
work enough for Mr. Kirk, 1 5 which could not be pafTed over. To-morrow 
I go to the Continent, an hiftorical tour, for a few days. 

I have now ieen life in London and its environs, wealth, wit, and beauty, and 
rank ; fometimes without either ; women talking politics, men talking nonfenfe ; 
literary breakfafts, fafhionable dinners, convivial dinners, political dinners ; lords 
without pretenfion, citizens with a good deal, literary lions, fafhionable lions, 
the Nepaulefe, the hippopotamus, &c, &c. But I have not feen an old woman. 
As to age, nobody, man or woman, is old here. Even Mifs Berry is but 
getting old. I forgot, however, Mifs Joanna Baillie, — decidedly old, much older 
than her fifter. What a little world it is ! Everything is 'drawn into the 

*5 His fecretarv. 



Letter to Mrs. Ticknor. 



vortex, and there they fwim round and round, fo that you may revolve for 
meet a familiar face half a dozen times. Yet there is monotony 
— that everlafting turbot and fhrimp-fauce. I mail never abide a 



weeks, and not 
in fome things, 
turbot again. 

The dinners are very agreeable, if you are planted between agreeable people. 
But what a perilous affair the fettling of the refpective grades, as you move in 
folemn proceffion to the banquet ! It is a nation of caftes, as defined as thofe in 
India. But what cordial hearts are fometimes found under the cruft of fhynefs 
and referve ! There are fome, however, fo invincibly my that they benumb the 
faculties of any one, — at leaft, any ftranger who approaches them. 

I have found the notabilities here pretty much as I had fuppofed. Macaulay 
is the moft of a miracle. His tours in the way of memory ftagger belief. He 
does not go about much now, except at breakfaft. I loft a pleafant dinner with 
him on Monday at Denifon's. His talk is like the labored, but ftill uninter- 
mitting, jerks of a pump. But it is anything but wifhy-wafhy. It keeps the 
mind, however, on too great a tenfion for table-talk. The Milmans are the 
moft lovable people I have met with, always excepting our friends the Lyells 
and Lord Carlifle and his family. Thefe are the people whom I have feen the 
moft of, and enjoved the moft ; — invariable kindnefs, mown not merely in pairing 
hofpitality, but active meafures for promoting one's happinefs in every way that 
a ftranger could defire. I have feen Rogers feveral times, that is, all that 
is out of the bed-clothes. His talk is ftill fauce piquante. The beft thing 

on record of his late fayings is his reply to Lady , who at a dinner-table, 

obferving him fpeaking to a lady, faid, " I hope, Mr. Rogers, you are not 

attacking me ! " " Attacking you ! " he faid, " why, my dear Lady , 

I have been all my life defending you." Wit could go no further. 

Since writing the above, I have returned from a dinner with Lockhart. We 
had only Ford, Stirling, and Major Rawlinfon. Carlyle was invited, but was 
unwell. He came the other day to a place five minutes after I left it, and I fat 
next but two to him at a dinner-table fome time fince, and never knew I was in 
his company. Odd enough ! It proves he did not talk loud that day. So 
I have never feen him ; is it not droll ? Yet there are many men I fhould have 
more cared to fee. Lockhart fhowed us the diary of Sir Walter. He (Lock- 
hart) had two copies of it printed for himfelf. One of them was deftroyed in 
printing the Memoir, for which he made extracts. 

But I muft bid you good-night, dear Anna, as it is midnight. The iron 
tongue ftrikes it as I write thefe words. Good night, dear friend. Much love 
to George and to Anika. Thank your hufband for his kind letter, which he 
will be kind enough to confider partlv anfwered in this. Love to little Lizzie. 

Believe me, now and ever, 

Yours affectionately 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



319 



Chap. XXI. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Dinners. 



Macaulav, 



Milmans and 
Lyells. 



Rogers. 



Carlyle. 



320 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Paris. 




CHAPTER XXII. 

1850. 



Leaves London. — Hafty Vifit to Paris, Bruffels, and Antwerp. • 
— Return to London. — Vifits in the Country. — Letters, 
his Vifit to England. — Englifh Character and Society. 



Letters. 
■ End of 



S^||f|gfL^p HE expedition to the Continent was begun the 
next day after the laft letter was written, and 
on the afternoon of the day following, July 
20th, Mr. Prefcott was in Paris. But he did 
not flop there. He was in brilliant Paris 
hardly two days, and one of them was a 
Sunday. He left it on the 22a 1 , and on the 23d wrote from 
Antwerp to Mrs. Prefcott a long letter, from which I felecl the 
portion that has a general intereft. 




Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 



Antwerp, July 23, 1850. 



In BrufTels I found myfelf in the heart of the Middle Ages. Old buildings 
of ftone, curioufly carved, immenfe gables and fantaftic architraves, and cor- 
nices of the houfes ; churches with antique Gothic fpires. The Place Royale, in 
which my hotel ftood, was the fpot on which Charles the Fifth abandoned the 
crown in prefence of the moft royal affembly that ever met in BrufTels. What 
do I dream of at night ? Not Charles the Fifth, but Bofton. That is a fact ; 
but my waking dreams were of the fixteenth century. I vifited the Hotel de 
Ville, a moft glorious municipal monument of the Middle Ages, ftanding as it 
ftood when, directly in front of it, thofe gallant nobles, Egmont and Home, were 
beheaded on a public fcaffold by order of Alva. I vifited the houfe, a fine old 
Gothic edifice, ftill ftanding, from which the Flemifh patriots walked out to the 
fcaffold, and from the windows of which Alva witnefled the execution. What 
a fquare that is ! If I don't make fomething out of my vifit to BrufTels and its 
glorious fquares, I don't know what there is in eyefight. Yet I do know what 
there is in the want of it too well. My eyes, however, have been much better 
of late, and I read fome every day. Then the noble cathedral of BrufTels, 
dedicated to Saint Gudule ; the fuperb organ filling its long aides with the moft 
heart-thrilling tones, as the voices of the priefts, drefled in their rich robes 
of purple and gold, rofe in a chant that died away in the immenfe vaulted 
diftance of the cathedral. It was the fervice for the dead, and the coffin of 
fome wealthy burgher, probably, to judge from its decorations, was in the choir. 
A number of perfons were kneeling and faying their prayers in rapt attention, 
little heeding the Proteftant ftrangers who were curioufly gazing at the pictures 
and ftatues with which the edifice was filled. I was moft ftruck with one poor 
woman who was kneeling at the fhrine of the faint, whofe marble corpfe, 
covered by a decent white gauze veil, lay juft before her, feparated only by 
a light railing. The fetting fun was ftreaming in through the rich colored panes 
of the magnificent windows, that rofe from the floor to the ceiling of the cathe- 
dral, fome hundred feet in height. The glafs was of the time of Charles the 
Fifth, and I foon recognized his familiar face, the whapper-jaw of the A.uftrian 
line. As I heard the glorious anthem rife up to Heaven in this time-honored 
cathedral, which had witnefled generation after generation melt away, and 
which now difplayed the effigies of thofe, in undying colors, who had once wor- 
fhipped within its walls, I was fwept back to a diftant period, and felt I was 
a contemporary of the grand old times when Charles the Fifth held his Chapters 
of the Golden Fleece in this very building. 

But in truth I do not go back quite fo far. A filly woman, with whom 
I came into Paris, faid, when I told her it was thirty years fince I was here, 
" Poh ! you are not more than thirty years old ! " — and on my repeating it, ftill 
infifted on the fame flattering ejaculation. The Bifhop of London, the other 
day, with his amiable family, told me they had fettled my age at forty, and that 



is juft the a 



ge 



at which Richmond's portrait, 
4 1 



fo 



dlent. 



puts 



me ! So I am 



321 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

BrufTels. 



Hiftoric fcenes. 



Saint Gudule. 



His own youth- 
ful appearance. 



322 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Low Countries. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



convinced there has been fome error in the calculation. Afk mother how it is. 
They fay here that gray hairs, particularly whifkers, may happen to anybody, 
even under thirty. On the whole, I am fatisfied, I am the youngeft of the 
family. 

I had a note to M. de Praet, Leopold's Minifter, who lives with him in his pal- 
ace at Bruffels. Mr. Van der Weyer expreffed a defire that I mould fee Leopold, 
and gave me the letter for that purpofe. It would have been an eafy matter, as 
the king is very acceffible, with very little form, and, as he is a clever perfon, is 
an interefting one in the line of crowned heads. But Fate has decided other- 
wife. On calling, I found his Belgian Majefty was not to come to-day (I am 
writing Tuefday, the 23d) from his country-place, and had fent for his Minifter, 
half an hour before, to come to him. As I was to leave Bruffels in a couple of 
hours, I left the note, with my regrets, and thus the foundation of what might 
have been a permanent friendmip between us — I mean, of courfe, Leopold and 
me — was entirely deftroyed ! At three, I left Bruffels for Antwerp, another 
of the great hiftorical cities of the Low Countries. Our road lay through fat 
meadows, wheat fpreading out for miles, all yellow as gold, and as high as 
a man's head ; fields of the moft tender green checkering the landfcape ; rows 
of willow trees, elms, and lindens, all in ftraight lines ; hedges of hawthorn ; 
fuch a fruitful country as your eye never refted on. It beats England all hollow. 
The women in the fields, reaping and binding the fheaves ; the cattle all 
fpeckled white and black, fuggefting lots of cream, delicious butter, and Dutch 

cheefes, — fuch as Mr. B fent me, you know ; cottages wretchedly poor, 

fhaded by old trees, and enchanting creepers and wild-flowers ; the whole as 
level as a bowling-green. Dear Sufan, I never fee anything beautiful in nature 
or art, or hear heart-ftirring mufic in the churches, the only place where mufic 
does ftir my heart, without thinking of you, and wifhing you could be by my 
fide, if only for a moment. But I (hall be by yours before September is clofed. 
I mean to take my paffage, on my return to England, for the 7th. 

To-morrow I go by fteam to Rotterdam, take a peep into Holland, and fee 
u the broad, ocean lean againft the land." It will be but a peep. — But fare thee 
well. Good night, dear. Love to mother and Lizzie, and a hearty kifs, by 
way of good night, to both of them. Remember me to Elizabeth and the 
Ticknors, and believe me, 

Your affectionate hufband, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



He made a little excurfion in Holland, and, returning to 
Antwerp five days afterwards, wrote to his daughter on the 
28th another long letter, like the laft to Mrs. Prefcott, but one 
from which, as in that cafe, I omit fuch details as are of a 
domeftic nature and do not belong to the public. 



Letter to Miss Prescott. 



Dear Lizzie, 



TO MISS PRESCOTT. 

Antwerp, Sunday, July 28, 1850. 



From Antwerp I went to Rotterdam, Delft, the Hague, Haarlem, and Amfter- 
dam. At Delft I faw the fpot on which William of Orange, the hero of the 
Netherlands, was ftanding when he was afTailinated ; the very fpot is indicated by 
a tablet in the wall. He was juft coming down-ftairs when he was {hot by the 
affaffin. The piftol has been preferved, and is fo long that it could hardly have 
been prefented without touching William's body in the narrow paflage. Was it 
not an interefting fpot to me ? I wifh you could have been with me on the vifit 
to Holland. Life is fo different there from what it is anywhere elfe. Your 
mother would revel in its neatnefs. The great ftreets of Rotterdam and Amfter- 
dam are filled with women, all bufilv engaged in different labors, fome of which 
with us are performed by men. They were all dreffed in neat caps, and with no 
bonnets or mawls, — fo it feemed as if we were in fome great houfe, inftead of 
being out of doors. We went to the little town of Broek, remarkable even 
here for its extravagant neatnefs. The ftreets looked as if they had been 
fcoured down every day. We went into ftables where the accommodations for 
cows were as nice as thofe ufually for the mafters and miftreffes. They have 
a front-door to each of the houfes, which is never opened except for weddings 
and funerals. One thing would have delighted you in all the Dutch towns, the 
quantities of little babies, the prettieft little rofy-faced things in the world, and 
without a fpeck on their clothes. How the Dutch mammas manage their babies 
and their other handiwork, I don't comprehend. But every woman almoft 
feems to have one of them in her arms. On the whole, I was much pleafed 
with my bird's-eye view of the people, men and women, although the former do 
fmoke intenfelv, not hefitating to light their pipes and cigars in the carriage or at 
the breakfaft-table. 



On the 29th of July he was again in his old quarters at 
Mivart's Hotel. His object, however, was not London or 
London fociety ; but Englifh country life, and what is beft in 
it. He began, therefore, a feries of vifits, with which, accord- 
ing to his previous arrangements, he was to clofe his European 
excurfion ; flopping, however, one day for a moft agreeable 
dinner at Lord Carlifle's, to which he had promifed himfelf 
before he went over to Holland. 

His firft country vifit was a charming one to Ham's Hall, 
in Warwickshire, where he went with a kinfman and friend of 



323 



Chap. XXTI. 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 



William of 
Orange. 



Holland. 



Children. 



Return to Enj 
land. 



Country life. 



3^4 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Rain in Eng- 
land. 



Alnwick Caftle. 



the ftatefman who is the matter of that noble and luxurious 
eftablifhrnent. The three days they fpent there were moft 
agreeable in all refpecls, involving, as they did, excurfions with 
a brilliant party to Kenilworth, Warwick, and Stoneleigh Ab- 
bey. But he was obliged to hurry away in order to keep an 
engagement for a great annual feftival obferved at Alnwick 
Caftle, in Northumberland, and of which he gives a full ac- 
count in the following letter to his daughter, — familiar cer- 
tainly in its whole tone, but the better and more agreeable be- 
caufe it is fo. 



TO MISS PRESCOTT. 

Alnwick Caftle, Auguft 8, 1850. 

My dear Lizzie, 

It was very good of you to write me fuch a charming letter, and fo very 
interefting. I received it here in the ancient caftle of the Percys ; and it was 
more pleafant to my fight than the handwriting — if I could meet with it — 
of Harry Hotfpur himfelf. So I cannot do better than to anfwer it by fome 
account of the magnificent place where I am now quartered. We reached it 
three days fince in a heavy rain. It rains in England twice as much as with 
us ; and in the North and in Scotland four times as much, I underftand. But 
nobody minds rain ; and the ladies jump into their faddles or put on their walk- 
ing-fhoes as foon in a drizzle or a light fhower as in funfhine. I wonder they do 
not grow web-footed, as I have told them. I received a note from the Duke a 
day or two before I left London, advifing me to be in time for dinner, and it 
was juft after the firft bell rang that our carriage drove up. Alnwick Caftle 
ftands at the end of the town, from which it is cut off* by high walls and towers, 
— and it looks out on a bold hilly country, with the river Alne flowing below its 
walls. My chamber, where I am now writing, overlooks a wide ftretch of 
border land, made famous by many a ballad ; and away to the weft rife the blue 
hills of Cheviot, with Chevy Chafe between, and farther to the weft is the 
field of Flodden. Is it not a ftirring country ? Then to look on it from the 
towers of Alnwick ! 

I went down to dinner, and found the Duke with a few friends, waiting 
for the ladies. He gave us a cordial welcome. He was no ftranger to me, 
as I have met both him and the Duchefs in London. He is a good-looking 
man, with light hair, blue eyes, rather tall, frank and cordial in his manners. 
He has been a captain in the navy. He immediately took me to a window, 
and fhowed me the battle-ground, where Malcolm, who fucceeded Macbeth, 
was flain, when befieging Alnwick. A little ftone crofs ftill marks the fpot. 
In fifteen minutes the company aflembled in the drawing-room to the number 



Letter to Miss Prescott. 



of forty. The dining-room is very large, as you may imagine, to accom- 
modate fo many perfons. There was a multitude of fervants, and the liveries, 
blue, white, and gold, of the Duke were very rich. We had alfo our own 
fervants to wait on us. The table was loaded with filver. Every plate was 
filver, and everything was blazoned with the Northumberland arms. The creft 
is a lion, and you fee the lion carved on the ftone-work difplayed in fugared 
ornaments on the table, in the gilt panelling of the rooms, &c. As you enter 
the town of Alnwick, a ftone column fome fixty feet high is feen, furmounted by 
a coloflal lion, and four monfters of the fame family in ftone lie at its bafe. 
The Northumberland lion has his tail always flicking out ftraight, which has 
proved too ftrong a temptation for the little boys of Alnwick, who have amufed 
themfelves with breaking off that ornamental appendage to a little lion fculptured 
on a bridge below the houfe. After dinner, which was a great London dinner 
over again, we retreated to the drawing-room, where a concert was prepared 
for us, the muficians having been brought from London, three hundred miles 
diftant. The room was hung round with full-length portraits of the Duke's 
anceftors, fome of them in their robes of ftate, very fhowy. I went to bed in 
a circular room in one of the towers, with a window, fhaped fomething like a 
rofe, fet into a wall from five to fix feet thick. In the morning I waked up, 
and heard the deep tones of the old clock announcing feven. My head was 
full of the ftout Earl of Northumberland who 

" A vow to God did make, 
His pleafure in the Scottifh woods," &c. 

As I looked out of the window, I faw myfelf to be truly in an old baronial for- 
trefs, with its dark walls, and towers gloomily muftered around it. On the tur- 
rets, in all directions, were ftone figures of men, as large as life, with pikes, 
battle-axes, &c, leaning over the battlements, apparently in the a£r. of defending 
the caftle, — a moft fingular efFecl:, and to be found only in one or two fortrefTes. 
It reminded me of the defcription in Scott of the warders pacing to and fro on 
the battlements of " Norham's caftled steep," while the banner of Northumber- 
land waved high in the morning breeze. It was a glorious profpecl:, which called 
up the old border minftrelfy to memory, and I felt myfelf carried back to the days 
when the Douglas came over the borders. The dwelling of the family is the 
keep of the caftle, the interior fortrefs. It was entirely rebuilt on the old foun- 
dations by the Duke's grandfather. But in conforming to them he has been led 
into fuch a quantity of intricacies, odd-fhaped rooms, perplexing paffages, out- 
of-the-way ftaircafes, &c, that it is the greateft puzzle to find one's own room, 
or anybody's elfe. Even the partition-walls are fometimes five feet thick. The 
whole range of towers, which are offices for domeftics and for the Duke's men 
of bufinefs, together with the walls, are of the ancient Norman ftru&ure ; and 
the effect of the whole, as feen from different points of view, is truly majeftic. 
The print which I fend you may give you fome idea of the caftle, though not a 
very good one. 

At a quarter paft nine the whole houfehold afTembled for prayers in the chapel, 
to the number, it might be, of over a hundred. Services were performed by the 



325 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Dinner. 
Family arms. 



The caftle. 



Chapel. 




Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 



Drives. 



The park. 



Hulm Abbey. 



Occupations of 
the guefts. 



Public dinner of 
the tenants 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Duke's chaplain, and at parts of them every one knelt. Prayers in this way are 
read every morning in the Englifh houfes that I have feen, and, where there is 
no chaplain, by the mafter. It is an excellent ufage, and does much for the 
domeftic morals of England. From prayers we go to the breakfaft-table, — an 
informal meal. After the breakfaft the company difperfes to ride, to walk, to 
read, &c. 

One day I amufed myfelf with going over the different towers exploring the 
fecrets of the old caftle, with a party of ladies who could not be perfuaded to 
defcend into the dungeon, which is ftill covered by its iron grating in the floor 

above. The good old times ! One day I took a ride with Lord M in the 

park, to fee the ruins of Hulm Abbey. The park is a noble piece of ground, 
furrounded by a ring fence, a high wall of ten miles in circumference. It is 
carpeted with beautiful verdure, filled with old trees, and watered by the river 
Alne, which you crofs at fords when there are no bridges. As you drive along 
over the turf and among the green thickets, you ftart hares and pheafants, and 
occafionally a troop of deer. The Duke has fome red deer, which at times it is 

not pleafant for the pedeftrian to meet. Lord O told me that he was. with 

a party once, when a flag of this kind planted himfelf in the path, and, on the 
carriage's advancing, rufhed againft the horfes, and plunged his horns into the 
heart of one of them, who reared and fell dead. On reaching the Abbey we 
found the Duchefs with a party of ladies had juft arrived there, in two carriages 
drawn by four horfes each, with poftilions whofe gay liveries looked pretty 
enough among the green trees. The Abbey is in a deep valley, a charming 
cultivated fpot. The old monks always picked out fome fuch place for their 
neft, where there was plenty of fweet water, and feed for their cattle, and 
venifon to boot. We wandered over the ruins, over which Time had thrown 
his graceful mantle of ivy, as he always does over fuch ruins in England. From 
the topmoft tower the eye ranged along a beautiful landfcape, clofed by the 
Cheviots. In coming home, which we all did at a gallop, we found lunch 
ready for us, at half paft two o'clock. This, too, is an informal meal, but it 
is a fubftantial one at Alnwick. After lunch we again took care of ourfelves as 
we liked till dinner. In fhooting-time the park affords a noble range for the 
fportfman, and plenty of trout are caught in the ftreams. Thofe of lefs mur- 
derous intent frequent the library, a large room ftored with fome thoufands of 
volumes, — fome of them old enough, — and hung round with family portraits. 
In this pleafant room I have paffed fome agreeable hours, with perfons who 
feemed to take the greateft pleafure in hunting up things for me moft worthy of 
notice. Englifh country-life brings out all the beft qualities of the Englishman. 

At feven o'clock again came the dinner, for which we drefs as much as in 
town. One day we all dined — the men — at a public dinner of all the great 
tenant farmers in the county. The building was of boards and fail-cloth, and 
lighted with hundreds of gas-lights. There were about a thoufand perfons, and 
the Duke and his guefts fat at a long table, raifed above the others, and, as it ran 
croffwife alfo to thefe, it commanded the whole hall. It was an animated fight, 
efpecially as the galleries were filled with the ladies of the Caftle and the County. 
I luckily had laid in a good lunch j for as to eating in fuch a fcramble, it is hope- 



Letter to Miss Prescott. 



lefs. There was a good deal of fpeaking, and, among others, Lawrence did 
credit to himfelf and his country. I bargained with the Duke that I mould not 
be called upon. Without this I would not have gone. But I did not get off 
without fome ftartling allufions, which made my hair ftand on end, for fear 
I mould be obliged to anfwer them. But they told me it was not intended. 
The Duke himfelf fpoke half a dozen times, as prefident of the feaft. He 
always fpoke well, and the enthufiafm was immenfe ; — cheering, hip hurrahs, till 
my head ached. Our Minifter's fpeech was moft heartily received, mowing 
a good-will towards Yankees which was very gratifying. It was an animating 
fight, the overflow of foul and found. But I had rather have eaten my cheefe- 
cakes alone in a corner, like Sancho Panza. 

On returning to the caftle we found an informal dinner prepared for us, and 
in another room a fuperb defTert of cakes, ices, and confectionery. The tables, 
both at breakfaft and lunch, are ornamented with large vafes of flowers of the 
moft brilliant colors, with clufters of white and purple grapes of mammoth fize, 
pine-apples, peaches, &c. Talking of flowers, it is the habit now to furround 
the houfes in the country with beds of flowers, arranged in the moft artificial 
forms, diamonds, circles, &c. The flowers are difpofed after fome fanciful pat- 
tern, fo as to produce the effecT: of brilliant carpeting, and this forms quite a 
ftudy for the Englifh dames. And fuch flowers ! If they had our autumnal 
woods, they would undoubtedly difpofe the trees fo as to produce the beft effects 
of their gaudy colors. 

Another day we went in to fee the peafantry of the great tenants dine, fome 
fixteen hundred in number, or rather we faw them for half an hour after dinner. 
The Duke and the Duchefs took the head of the hall ; and I thought the people, 
drefTed in their beft, to whom the dinner was given, as they drank off healths to 
their noble hofts, would have gone mad with enthufiafm. I nearly did fo from 
the noife. The Duke, on allufion to his wife, brought her forward ; and fhe 
bowed to the multitude. It was altogether a pretty fight. Perfons in their con- 
dition in England are obliged to be early accuftomed to take part in theihfpec- 
tacles, and none do it better than our excellent hoft and hoftefs. They are 
extremely beloved by their large tenantry, who are fpread all over the County 
of Northumberland. 

The Duke has fhown the greateft defire to promote the education and com- 
fort of his peafantry. " He wants us all to be comfortable," one of them faid 
to me ; and the confequence is he is univerfally beloved by them. Both he and 
his wife vifit the poor cottages conftantly ; and fhe has a large fchool of her 
own, in which {he aflifts in teaching the children. One of the prettieft fights 
was the affembly of thefe children in one of the Caftle courts, making their pro- 
ceflions in the order of their fchools ; that of the Duchefs being diftinguifhed 
by green jackets. The Duke and Duchefs ftood on the fteps, and the little 
children, as they parTed, all made their bows and courtefies, a band playing all the 
while. Afterwards came the feafting. It was a happy day for the little urchins, 
— a vifit to the Caftle ; and I am told there was no fuch thing as getting any 
ftudy out of them for days previous ; — and I will anfwer for it there will be 
none for days to come. As they all joined in the beautiful anthem, " God fave 



327 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 



Mr. Lawrence. 



Informal dinnei 



Dinner of the 
peafantry. 



Feftival for the 
children. 



328 



Chap. XXII 

1850. 
Mr. 54. 



Invitations. 



Leaving Aln- 
wick. 



Abbotsford. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



the Queen," the melody of the little voices rofe up fo clear and fimple in the 
open court-yard, that everybody was touched. Though I had nothing to do 
with the anthem, fome of my opera tears, dear Lizzie, came into my eyes, and 
did me great credit with fome of the John and Jeannie Bulls by whom I was 
furrounded. 

Edinburgh, Auguft nth. — Here I am in the Scottifh capital, dear Lizzie, 
where we have met Mr. Kirk, on his Northern pilgrimage, and to fave time I am 
dictating this letter to him. But I muft leave Edinburgh till another time, and 
wind up now with Alnwick. When it was known I was going, I had a quantitv 
of invitations all along my route, and memoranda given me to mow how I could 
beft get to the different places. I took them all kindly, as they were meant, but 

can go to none. One of them, Lord and Lady O , would have given me 

an interesting place, for it is the only one which ftill preferves the famous breed 
of Chillingham cattle, fnow-white and ftill as untamed as zebras. The eftate 

is really that of Lord O 's father, a blind old peer, whofe wife told me in 

London that fhe had read my hiftories aloud to him. So he might have known me 
without his eyes. My friendly hofts remonftrated on my departure, as they had 
requefted me to make them a long vifit, and cc I never fay what I do not mean," 
faid the Duke, in an honeft way. And when I thanked him for his hofpitable 
welcome, " It is no more," he faid, " than you mould meet in every houfe in 
England." That was hearty. They urged me next time to bring your mother. 
I rather think I mail ! They invited me alfo to their place at Stanwick ; a pretty 
fpot, which they like better than Alnwick, living there in lefs ftate, which, as 
I learn from others, he keeps up no more than is abfolutely neceffary. He goes 
from Alnwick to Keilder, where he and the Duchefs pafs a couple of months 
with never more than two friends, the houfe being fo fmall that the dinner- 
room is alfo the fitting-room. We can do better than this at the Highlands ; 
Heaven blefs the place dearer to me than Highlands or Lowlands in any other 
quarter of the globe ! 

Yefterday we went to Abbotsford, Melrofe Abbey, and Dryburgh. Shade of 
Scott ! I had a note from Lockhart, which inftrucled the houfekeeper to let me 
and my friends take our fill of the hallowed precincts. As I looked through the 
iron grating of Dryburgh, and faw the ftone farcophagus of the great minftrel, it 
feemed as if I was looking with you, dear, through the iron bars that fence in the 
marble farcophagus of our great and good Wafhington. . But I muft finifti. 
To-morrow for the North, — Loch Katrine, Loch Lomond, Inverary Caftle, 
where I fhall halt for a few days. I have told William he ought to write to 
you, but he fays the family have given up writing to him, fo he leaves it all to 

me. How do you like that ? I am glad you take fo much comfort in ; 

I knew you would. Pray remember me to the dear girl, and to , and to 

, when you write her. I mean to write to her foon. But you fee what 

long letters I fend to Fitful Head. Kifs your mother for me. I know you are 
a comfort to her ; you cannot be otherwife. With much love to your grand- 
mother and Aunt Dexter, I remain, 

Your afFecT:ionate father, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Letter to Mr. Tieknor. 



His more general but ftill very familiar views of Englifh 
fociety may perhaps be better gathered from a letter written 
after he had crofTed into Scotland, than from thofe written on 
the other fide of the Tweed. 



TO MR. TICKNOR. 

Edinburgh, Auguft 16, 1850. 

Dear George, 
As I could not fend you a letter from Alnwick Caftle by my regular amanu- 
enfis, I have deferred fending it till I came here, and have taken the liberty to 
carry off one of the Alnwick note-papers, to give you a more vivid idea of my 
late whereabouts. I was much pleafed with my fhort refidence there, liking my 
noble hoft and his Duchefs very much. They are in truth excellent people, 
taking an active intereft in the welfare of their large tenantry. The Duke is 
doing much to improve the condition of his eftates. His farmers and tenants 
appear, from the glance I had at them, — that was at feeding hours, — to be a 
thriving, contented people, and overflowing with loyalty to the noble houfe of 
Percy. But I have written particulars of my vifit to Lizzie, in a letter, which, 
if you feel curious, I dare fay fhe will mow you, as I wifh all my letters to be 
read by you and Anna, if you defire it. I paffed alfo feme days with Mr. 

A , a great landed proprietor in Warwickfhire ; quite an amiable, cultivated 

perfon, who has taken an active intereft in colonial affairs in Parliament. We 
had fome agreeable people in the houfe, and I faw a good deal of the neighbor- 



through whom I became 

's coufin. But for my 

etters. I am now at Edin- 



3^9 

Chap. XXII. 

1850. 

JEt. 54. 



Duke of Nor- 
thumberland. 



ing country, in the fociety of our friend T 

acquainted with Mr. A . Mr. A 's wife is T 

adventures here, I mall refer you alfo to family 

burgh en route for the North, and propofe to be at Inverary Caftle at the end 

of three days, taking the way of Stirling, Loch Katrine, &c. 

I have been now long enough in London fociety, I believe, to underftand 
fomething of it, and fomething alfo of Englifh country life, — far the nobleft 
phafe. Yet neither one nor the other, as they are conducted in the great 
houfes, would be wholly to my tafte. There is an embarras de richejfes ; one 
would want more repoie. I am told the higher Englifh themfelves difcover 
fomething of this tafte, and that there is Ids of profufe hofpitality than of 
yore. This is fomewhat attributed to the railroads, which fetch and carry 
people with the utmoft facility from the moft diftant quarters. It was a great 
affair formerlv to make journeys of two or three hundred miles ; arrangements 
were made long beforehand, and the guefts ftayed long after they got there. 
But now-a-days they flip in and off without ceremony, and the only place 
where the old ftate of things perfectly exifts is in a county like Cornwall, too 
rough for railways, — at leaft for many. Your railroad is the great leveller 
42 



Englifh fociety. 



330 



Chap. XXII 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Change of its 
character. 



Sir R. Peel. 



Sir R. Peel's lit- 
erary execu- 
tors. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



after all. Some of the old grandees make a moft whimfical lament about it. 

Mrs. 's father, who is a large proprietor, ufed to drive up to London with 

his family, to attend Parliament, with three coaches and four. But now-a-days 
he is tumbled in with the unwarned, in the firft clafs, it is true, — no better 
than ours, however, — of the railway carriages; and then tumbled out again 
into a common cab with my Lady and all her little ones, like any of the com- 
mon pottery. 

There are a good many other figns of the times to be feen in the prefent 
condition of the ariftocracy. The growing importance of manufactures and 
moneyed capitalifts is a wound, not only to the landed proprietors, but to the 
peers, who, it is true, are ufually the greateft landed proprietors in the country. 
The laft man raifed to the peerage was a banker, a man of fenfe, whom I have 
met feveral times. Another peer, Lord C 
not have got it right, 



or fome fuch name, I may 
whofe brother, a well-known baronet, — I forget his 
name (I have a glorious memory for forgetting, and they fay that is an excellent 
kind of memory), — was raifed to the Houfe of Lords not many years fince, — 

actually, I mean, the firft nominative, Lord C , applied to the Queen the 

other day to dis-peer him. After a grave confideration of the matter with the 
Privy Council, it was decided that it was not in the power of the Crown to do 
fo, and the poor man was obliged to pocket his coronet, and make the beft of it. 
Sir Robert Peel mowed his eftimate of titles by his curious injunction on his 
family ; as indeed he had mown it through his whole life. A perfon who, 
I believe, is well acquainted with the matter, told me that the Queen urged the 
title of Earl on Sir Robert when he went out of office ; but he fteadily declined 
it, requefting only that her Majefty and the Prince would honor him by fitting 
for their portraits for him. Two indifferent full-lengths were accordingly 
painted for him by Winterhalter, the Flemifh artift, and form one of the prin- 
cipal ornaments, as the guide-book would fay, of Sir Robert's houfe. Peel, it is 
well known, was a good deal fnubbed in his earlier life, when he firft became 
a Cabinet Minifter, by the ariftocracy ; fo that he may have felt fatisfaction in 
fhowing that he preferred to hold the rank of the Great Commoner of England 
to any that titles could give him. Yet it feems almoft an affectation to prevent 
their defcending to his pofterity, though it is true it was only as far as they were 
meant as the reward of his own fervices. He had too much pride, it feems, to 
digeft this. As to the inferior ariftocracy of baronets, knights, &c, there is 
many an old commoner that would refufe it, with contempt. You know our 
friend Hallam's decifion in regard to a baronetcy, though he did not exprefs 

himfelf like one of the old family of T , who, when he was told that it was 

intended to make him a baronet, begged that it might be commuted to a knight- 
hood, that the difgrace might not defcend to his pofterity. I had the ftory from 
one of the ariftocracy myfelf. You won't underftand from all this that I think 
titles have not their full value, real and imaginary, in England. I only mention 
it as a fign of the times, — that they have not altogether the preftige which they 
once had, and the toe of the commoner galls fomewhat the heel of the courtier. 
You know Sir Robert left to Lord Mahon and Mr. Cardwell the care of his 
papers. The materials will all be eafily at hand if they biographize. Peel told 



Letter to Mr. Ticknor. 



Mr. A , whofe eftate lies near to Tamworth, that he preferved all his 

correfpondence, except invitations to dinner ; and on one occafion, wanting an 
important letter in a great hurry in the Houfe of Commons, he was able to point 

out the file in which it was kept (o exactly, that his friend Lord L went to 

Tamworth and got it for him in the courfe of a few hours. His death feems to 
have broken the knot which held together rather an anomalous party. Many 
fpeculations there are about them, as about a hive of bees ready to fwarm, of which 
one cannot tell where it will fettle. The perfons moft important in the party 
are Sir James Graham and Gladftone, two of the beft fpeakers, indeed, if not the 
very beft, in the Houfe of Commons. They are pledged, however, to the Corn- 
Law movement, and into whatever fcale the Peelites may throw themfelves, 
there feems to be a general impreffion that there can be no decidedly retrograde 
movement in regard to the Corn-Laws, at leaft at prefent. The experiment muft 
be tried ; and the diverfity of opinion about it among the landholders themfelves 
feems to mow that it is far from having been tried yet. 

Before I left town, almoft all your friends had flown, — the Lyells, Hallam, 
the excellent Milmans, Lord Mahon, T. Phillips, — all but good Kenyon, 
whom, by the bv, I faw but twice, and that was at his hofpitable table, though 
we both made various efforts to the contrary, and poor Mr. Rogers, who, far 
from flying, will probably never walk again, — all are gone, and chiefly to the 
Continent. Ford has gone to Turkey, Stirling to Ruflia ; Lockhart remains to 
hatch new Quarterlies. He is a fafcinating fort of perfon, whom I mould fear 
to have meddle with me, whether in the way of praife or blame. I fufpecl: he 
laughs in his fleeve at more than one of the articles which come out with his 
imprimatur, and at their authors too. I had two or three merry meetings, in 
which he, Stirling, and Ford were met in decent conviviality. 

But I muft conclude the longeft, and probably the laft, epiftle I mail ever 
fend you from the Old World, and I hope you will never fend me one from that 
fame world yourfelf. Pray remember me moft lovingly to Anna and Anika, 
with kind remembrance, moreover, to Gray, and Hillard, and Everett, when 
you fee them. No American Minifter has left a more enviable reputation here. 
Lawrence, with very different qualities, is making himfelf alfo equally acceptable 
to the Englifh. Addio, mio caro. With many thanks for your moft interefting 
letter on our Yankee politics, — more interefting to me here even than at home, 
— I remain 

Affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

He haftened from Edinburgh, and pufhed on to Inverary 
Caftle, the Duke of Argyll's, picking up on the way Sir 
Roderick Murchifon and Profeflor Sedgwick, who were hound 
to the fame hofpitable port. There he remained for a few 
days, but days of great enjoyment, and then turned his face 
fouthward, feeling, at the fame time, that he had the happinefs 



331 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Confequences of 
his death. 



Lockhart. 



Inverary Caftle. 



332 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Sir Archibald 
Alifon. 



Naworth Caftle. 



Lord Carlifle. 



Will 



tam 



Hickling Prescott. 



of turning it towards his home. But great pleafures and great 
feftivities ftill awaited him on the hofpitable foil of Old Eng- 
land. Of thefe, the moft ample and agreeable accounts will 
be found in the following letters. 



TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 

Caftle Howard, Auguft 24th, 1850. 

Dear Wife, 

Here we are at Caftle Howard, by far the moft magnificent place I have yet 
feen. But I will begin where I left ofF. After bidding adieu to the Duke and 
his charming wife at Inverary Caftle, we failed down Loch Coyle and up the 
Clyde with Lady Ellefmere, and reached Glafgow at eight. I polled at once to 
Alifon's, and was cordially received by him and Madame. He lives in an ex- 
cellent houfe, furrounded by a handfome park. I found a company of ladies and 
gentlemen, and palled the hours pleafantly till midnight, when I returned to Glaf- 
gow. Alifon has a noble library, and in the centre of it is a great billiard-table, 
which, when he wrote, he covered with his authorities. Droll enough ! He 
fhowed me a handfome tribute he had paid to me in the laft edition of his Hiftory. 
He had a cheerful fire in my bedroom, expecting me to ftay. But it was im- 
poftible. The next morning we left for Naworth Caftle, where I was to meet 
Lord Carlifle. 

This is a fine old place, of the feudal times, indeed. In the afternoon we 
arrived, and faw the towers with the banners of the Howards and Dacres flying 
from the battlements, telling us that its lord was there. He came out to greet 
us, drefled in his travelling garb, — for he had juft arrived, — with his Scotch 
fhawl twifted round his body. Was it not kind in him to come this diftance — 
a hundred and fifty miles — folely to fhow me the place, and that when he was 
over head and ears in preparations for the Queen ? What a fuperb piece of 
antiquity, looking ftill as when Lord Surrey's minftrel 

" Forfook, for Naworth's iron towers, 
Windfor's fweet groves and courtly bowers." 

It was partially injured by fire ; but Lord Carlifle has nearly reftored it, and in 
the beft tafte, by copying the antique. Fortunately the walls of the building, 
with its charming old ivy and eglantines, are unfcathed, and a good deal of the 
interior. It ftands proudly over a deep ravine, briftled with pines, with a run- 
ning brook brawling below ; a wild fcene, fit for a great border fortrefs. The 
hall is a hundred feet long and thirty high, hung round with armorial quarterings 
of the family. Before dinner we vifited the rich old ruins of Lanercoft Abbey, 
which ftand on Lord C.'s grounds ; walking miles through the wildeft moun- 
tain fcenery to get at it. Every one we met fhowed a refpecl: for the lord of 
the domain, which feemed to be mingled with warmer feelings, as he fpoke 



I kindly to each one, afking them about their families, &c. Indeed, it is very 
gratifying to fee the great deference fhown to Lord Carlifle all along the route, 
on my way to Caftle Howard. Every one feemed to know him, and uncover 

! themfelves before him. Lady E told me — what I have often heard — 

that he was more generally beloved than any man in the country. 

We found on our return a game dinner fmoking for us, for which we were 
indebted to Mr. Charles Howard, a younger brother, and Baron Parke, 1 his 
father-in-law, who had been flaughtering groufe and black-cock on the moors. 
Our table was laid on the dais, the upper part of the long hall, with a great 
fcreen to keep off the cold, and a fire fuch as belted Will Howard himfelf 
never faw, for it was of coal, of which Lord C. has fome mines in the neigh- 
borhood. The chimney, which has a grate to correfpond, is full twelve feet 
in breadth ; a fine old baronial chimney, at which they roafted whole oxen 
I fuppofe. We all foon felt as if we could have fnapped our fingers at 
" Belted Will," if he had come to claim his own again. There are fome fine 
old portraits in the hall ; among them one of this hero and his wife, who 
brought the eftate into the Howard family. She was a Dacre. The embra- 
fures of the drawing-room windows of this old caftle are about ten feet thick. 

I have got fome drawings of the place which Lady gave me, and which 

will give you a better idea of it. Next morning we took up our march for 
Caftle Howard, — feventeen miles from York. You can follow me on the map. 

We arrived about fix ; found Lady Mary Howard in a pony phaeton with a 
pair of pretty cream-colored fteeds, waiting for us at the ftation, three miles 
diftant. There was a rumble, fo that all the party were accommodated. The 
fcenery was of a different character from that of Naworth. Wide-fpreading 
lawns, large and long avenues of beech and oak, beautiful pieces of water, on 
which white fwans were proudly failing, an extenfive park, with any quantity of 
deer, feveral of them perfectly white, grazing under the trees, all made up a 
brilliant picture of the fofter fcenery of England. We paffed under feveral 
ornamented ftone arches by a lofty obelifk of yellow ftone, and at length came 
in full view of the princely palace of the Howards. 

It is of clear yellow ftone, richly ornamented with ftatues and every kind of 
decoration. It makes three fides of a fquare, and you will form fome idea of its 
extent, when I tell you that a fuite of rooms continues round the houfe fix hun- 
dred feet in length. I have feen doors open through the whole front of the 
building, three hundred feet, as long as Park Street, — a vifta indeed. The great 
hall, riling to the top of the houfe, is gorgeous with decoration, and of immenfe 
fize. The apartments and the interminable corridors are filled with mafter- 
pieces of art, painting and fculpture. In every room you are furrounded with 
the moft beautiful objects of virtu, — tables of porphyry and Oriental alabafter, 
vafes of the moft elegant and capricious forms, &c. The rooms are generally 
not large, but very lofty and richly gilt and carved, and many of them hung 
with old Gobelins tapeftry. Critics find much fault with the building itfelf, as 
overloaded with ornament. It was built by Vanbrugh, who built Blenheim, — 
both in the fame ornamental ftyle. 

1 Now Lord Wenfleydale (1862). 



Chap. XXIL 

1850. 
Mr. 54. 

Dinner. 



Park of Caftle 
Howard. 



The caftle itfelf. 



334 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Lady Carlifle and 
her family. 



The Queen 
coming. 



Dining-hall. 



Game of bil- 
liards. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Nothing could be more cordial than the reception I met with. Lady Carlifle 
reminds me fo of mother; fo full of kindnefs. If you could fee the, not 
attention, but affection, which all the family mow me, it would go to your heart. 
I fpoke yefterday of writing to my late charming hoftefs, the Duchefs of Ar- 
gyll, and the kind old lady infifted on being my secretary inftead of William. 
So I went into her drefling-room, and we concocted half a dozen pages, which 
fhe wrote off, at my dictation, as rapidly, and with as pretty a hand, as her 
granddaughter. We found only fome of the family here ; Lady Dover, the 
widow of Lord Dover and fifter of Lord Carlifle, and her two daughters. Laft 
evening we had another arrival, the fplendid Duchefs of Sutherland among 
others, and William's friend, young Lord Dufferin. I drove over with Lady 
Mary in the pony phaeton to the ftation. Some went on horfeback, and two 
fhowy barouches, with four horfes each, one of bays, the other grays, with 
young poftilions in burnifhed liveries. It was a brilliant fhow as we all came 
merrily over the park, and at full gallop through the villages in the neighbor- 
hood. 

All now is buftle and preparation for the royal vifit, which is to come off on 
Tuefday, the 27th, — to take up two days. The Queen and Prince, with four 
children, and five and twenty in their fuite, chiefly domeftics. Lord Carlifle's 
family, brothers and fifters, and fons and daughters, will mufter over twenty. 
So that he has really not afked another, befides Will and myfelf, except thofe 
in attendance on the Queen. He has put off having my portrait engraved till 
after thefe feftivities, and has actually had it brought down here, where he has 
hung it up befide the Prince's and the Queen's, for her Majefty to look at. 
This is a fample of all the reft, and I fuppofe you won't think me a ninny for 
telling you of it. 

The dining-room will be fuch as the Queen cannot boaft of in Buckingham 
Palace. It is to be the centre of the famous Picture Gallery, one hundred and 
fifty feet long. This centre is an octagon of great height, and a table has been 
made, of hexagon fhape, twenty feet acrofs each way. It is to hold thirty-fix, 
the number of guefts and refidents of the Caftle. On one of the days a lunch 
for double the number will be fpread, and people invited, when two long ends 
are to be added to the table, running up the gallery. You may imagine the 
mow in this fplendid apartment, one fide of which is ornamented with ftatues, 
and with the coftlieft pictures of the Orleans Collection ; the other, with a 
noble library in rich bindings ; the windows opening on a velvet lawn and a 
filver fheet of water. But this will not be feen at the dinner hour of eight. 
The centre of the table will be occupied with candelabra, pyramids of lights 
and flowers, and we fhall all be able to fee the way in which her gracious 
Majefty deports herfelf. But 1 believe I muft wind up my yarn, and fpin fome 
for fomebody elfe. 

I muft tell you of one of my accomplifhments. Laft night we played bil- 
liards ; — the game of pool, a number of gentlemen and ladies. Each perfon 
has three lives. All had loft their lives but Lord Dufferin and myfelf. He 
had three and I had only one. The pool of fixpences would go to the viclor. 
There was a great fenfation, as he, being a capital player, had deprived many of 



Letter to Mrs. Prescott. 



their lives ; that is, pocketed their balls. I ftruck him into a pocket, which 
coft him one life, — a general fhout, — the whole houfe was there. He miffed 
his ftroke and pocketed himfelf ; thus he loft two lives and we were equal. 
The ftir was great, — all fhouting, as I played, " Hit him there, you can't fail ! 
kill him ! " &c, &c. We fought round and round the table and he took off 
his coat. So did not I, but buttoned up mine. As he miffed a hazard and left 
his ball expofed, the filence was breathlefs. I ftruck him into the pocket amidft 
a fhout that made the caftle ring again. It was juft twelve o'clock when I 
retired with my laurels and fixpences. Will, who is an excellent player, miffed 
fire on this occafion, and I, who am a poor one, had all his luck. 

I have taken my paffage, and paid for it, on board the Niagara, the fame 
veffel I came out in, for September 14th, a week later than I intended. But I 
found I fhould be too much hurried by the 7th. This will give me three weeks 
in old Pepperell. But it will take me via New York. I fhall write to you 



once more. 
Don't forget 
deareft wife. 



Love to 
me alfo to 



mother and Lizzie. 
the Ticknors and 



I fhall write E. 
other old friends. 



Your ever-loving hufband, 



Dexter by this, 
and believe me. 



W. H. P. 



Auguft 26th. — Having nothing elfe to do, as there is juft now a general lull in 
the breeze and I have fome leifure, I will go on with my domeftic chat. I left 
off, — let me fee, — Sunday. In the evening we had little games, &c. of con- 
verfation, as at Pepperell. But the chief bufinefs was lighting up the fplendid 
pictures fo as to fee the beft effecl: ; arranging the lights, &c. Beautiful pictures 
by any light. Before retiring we heard prayers in the noble hall ; all the houfe- 
hold, including a large troop of domeftics. The effecl: in this gorgeous room, as 
large and as richly ornamented as an Italian church, was very fine. Yefterday, 
the weather fair, we drove over the park. Firft I went with Lady Mary, who 
whipped me along in her pony-carriage. After lunch I and Will went with 
Lady Caroline Lafcelles and Captain Howard in a barouche and four, poftilions 
and outriders all in gay liveries, fpotlefs white leather pantaloons, and blue and 
filver coats and hats. - We dafhed along over the green fod, always in the park, 
ftartling the deer, and driving often into the heart of the woods, which are 
numerous in this fine park. We all prayed for as fine a day for the morrow 
for the royal advent. The houfe looks magnificently in the funfhine, as you 
drive up to it ! 

Alas ! it is always fo in this country, the morrow has come, and a drenching 
rain, mortifying to all loyal fubje&s, and a great pity. A great awning has been 
raifed for the Queen over the fteps of the principal entrance. It is now five 
o'clock. In an hour the royal cortege will be here. There has been fuch a fufs 
all day. Everybody has been running about arranging and deranging, — fome 
carrying chairs, fome flower-pots, fome pictures, fome vafes, &c, &c. Such 
a fcampering ! I help on with a kind word, and encourage the others, and efpe- 
cially comfort my kind hoft with affurances of the weather changing ! Gas has 
been conducted into the great dome over the hall, and "God lave the Queen" 
blazes out in fiery characters that illuminate the whole building. 



335 



Chap. XXII 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Sunday evening. 



Drive in the 
>ark. 



Rain. 



336 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Arrangements. 



Popular feeling. 



Arrival of the 
Queen. 



Dinner. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



Such a quantity of fine things, beautiful flowers and fruits, have arrived 
to-day from the Duchefs of Sutherland's place at Trentham, and from the 
Duke of Devonfhire's at Chatsworth ! The Duke is brother to Lady Carlifle. 
A large band will play during dinner at one end of the long gallery, and the 
Duke of Devonfhire has fent his band for mufic in the evening. We had our 
partners and places at table affigned us this morning. There will be eight or 
ten more me.i than women, thirty-fix in all. I go in with Lady Caroline Laf- 
celles, and fit next to Sir George Grey, the Cabinet Minifter, — who accompanies 
the Queen, — next the Duchefs of Sutherland, and next Lord Carlifle and the 
Queen. So you fee I mall be very near her Majefty, and, as the table is circu- 
lar, I could not be better placed, — another inftance of the kindnefs with which 
I have been treated. 

A quantity of policemen have arrived on the ground before the houfe, as the 
royal train will be greeted by all the loyal people in the neighborhood, and a 
body of military are encamped near the houfe to keep order. There is fuch a 
turn-out of coaches and four, with gay liveries and all. Plague on the weather ! 
But it only drizzles now. The landfcape, however, looks dull, and wants the 
lights to give it efFecL 

Auguft 28th, Wednefday. — I have a little time to write before luncheon, and 
muft fend off the letter then to London to be copied. Received yours this 
morning, complaining I had not written by the laft. You have got the explana- 
tion of it fince. To refume. The Queen, &c, arrived yefterday in a pelting 
rain, with an efcort of cavalry, — a pretty fight to thofe under cover. Crowds 
of loyal fubjects were in the park in front of the houfe to greet her. They 
muft have come miles in the rain. She came into the hall in a plain travelling- 
drefs, bowing very gracefully to all there, and then to her apartments, which 
occupy the front of the building. At eight we went to dinner, all in full drefs, 
but mourning for the Duke of Cambridge ; I, of courfe, for Prefident Taylor ! 
All wore breeches or tight pantaloons. It was a brilliant mow, I aflure you, — 
that immenfe table, with its fruits and flowers, and lights glancing over beautiful 
plate, and in that fuperb gallery. I was as near the Queen as at our own family 
table. She has a good appetite, and laughs merrily. She has fine eyes and 
teeth, but is fhort. She was drefled in black filk and lace, with the blue fcarf 
of the Order of the Garter acrofs her bofom. Her only ornaments were of 
jet. The Prince, who is certainly a handfome and very well-made man, wore 
the Garter with its brilliant buckle round his knee, a fhowy ftar on his breaft, 
and the collar of a foreign order round his neck. Dinner went ofF very well, 
except that we had no mufic ; a tribute to Louis-Philippe at the Queen's re- 
queft, — too bad ! 2 We drank the royal healths with prodigious enthufiafm. 



2 Louis-Philippe died at Clermont, Mon- 
day, Auguil 26th, 1850, and, as the Queen 
was on her way the next day to Caftle 
Howard, the train was flopped, when pall- 
ing near Clermont, long enough for Prince 
Albert to make a vifit of condolence to 



the ex-Queen. With all this frefh in their 
recolledlion, it was, I fuppoie, regarded as 
a confiderate and graceful tribute to the 
affliction of the French family to requefl 
that feflive mufic might be omitted at the 
dinner. 



Letters to Mrs. Prescott. 



in 



After the ladies retired, the Prince and the other gentlemen remained half an 
hour, as ufual. In the evening we liftened to fome fine mufic, and the Queen 
examined the pictures. Odd enough the etiquette. Lady Carlifle, who did the 
honors like a high-bred lady as fhe is, and the Duchefs of Sutherland, were the 
only ladies who talked with her Majefty. Lord Carlifle, her hoft, was the only 
gentleman who did fo, unlefs fhe addreffed a perfon herfelf. No one can fit a 
moment when fhe choofes to ftand. She did me the honor to come and talk 
with me, — afking me about my coming here, my flay in the Caftle, what I was 
doing now in the hiftoric way, how Everett was, and where he was, — for ten 
minutes or fo ; and Prince Albert afterwards a long while, talking about the 
houfes and ruins in England, and the churches in Belgium, and the pictures in 
the room, and I don't know what. I found myfelf now and then trenching on 
the rules by interrupting, &c. ; but I contrived to make it up by a refpe&ful 
"Your Royal Highnefs," " Your Majefty," &c. I told the Queen of the pleafure 
I had in finding myfelf in a land of friends inftead of foreigners, — a fort of ftere- 
otype with me, — and of my particular good fortune in being under the roof with 
her. She is certainly very much of a lady in her manner, with a fweet voice. 

The houfe is filled with officials, domeftics, &c. Over two hundred flept 
here laft night. The grounds all round the houfe, as I write, are thronged with 
thoufands of men and women, dreffed in their beft, from the adjacent parts of 
the country. You cannot ftir out without feeing a line of heads through the 
iron railing or before the court-yard. I was walking in the garden this morn- 
ing (did I tell you that it is a glorious day, luckily ?) with the Marchionefs 
of Douro, who was dreffed in full mourning as a lady in waiting, when the 
crowd fet up fuch a fhout ! as they took her for the Queen. But I muff clofe. 
God blefs you, dear ! 

William H. Prescott. 



TO MRS. PRESCOTT. 

London, September 5, 1850. 

Dearest Wife, 
I fend you a few lines, my laft from England, to bring up my hiftory to as 
late a date as poflible. I told you of the royal feftivities at Caftle Howard, and 
you will get frill more particulars from the account in the " Illuftrated News," 
which I hope you have provided yourfelf with. The Queen went off in royal 
ftate. In the evening after came off the ball, at which I danced three quadrilles 
and two country-dances, — the laft two with the Duchefs of Sutherland, — and 
it was four in the morning, when we wound up with the brave old dance of Sir 
Roger de Coverley. I fpent a day longer at Caftle Howard, driving about with 
Lady Mary Howard in her pony phaeton over the park to fee her village pen- 
fioners. When I left early the next day, we had an affectionate leave-taking 
enough ; I mean all of us together, and as I know it will pleafe you to fee how 
much heart the family have fhown to me, I will enclofe a note I received at 
43 



Chap. XXII 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Evening and 
etiquette. 



Caftle Howard. 



Ball. 



33% 



Chap. XXII 

1850. 

JEt. 54- 



Duchefs of 
Sutherland. 



Trentham. 



Plants a tree. 



The Howards. 



Chriftening. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Trentham from old Lady Carlifle, and another from her granddaughter, the 
Duchefs of Argyll. We all parted at the railway ftation, and I fhall never fee 
them more! 

From Caftle Howard we proceeded to Trentham in Staffordfhire, the Duchefs 
of Sutherland's favorite feat, and a fplendid place it is. We met her at Derby, 
fhe having fet out the day before us. We both arrived too late for the train. 
So fhe put poft-horfes to her barouche, and (he and Lady Conftance, a blooming 
Englifh girl looking quite like Lizzie, and Will and I, pofted it for thirty-fix 
miles, reaching Trentham at ten in the evening, — an open barouche and cool 
enough. But we took it merrily, as indeed we mould not have got on at all 
that night, if we had not had the good luck to fall in with her Grace. 

Trentham is a beautiful place ; the grounds laid out in the Italian ftyle for an 
immenfe extent ; the gardens with plots of flowers fo curioufly arranged that it 
looks like a fine painting, with a little lake ftudded with iflands at the end, 
and this enclofed by hills dark with foreft-trees. Befides thefe noble gardens, 
through which the Trent flows in a fmooth current, there is an extenfive park, 
and the deer came under my windows in the morning as tame as pet lambs. 
The Duchefs fpent the former part of the afternoon in taking us round herfelf 
to all the different places, walking and fometimes boating it on the Trent ; for 
they extend over a great fpace. The green-houfes, &c. are fuperb, and filled 
with exquifite flowers and fruit : and the drawing-rooms, of which there is a 
fuite of ten or twelve, very large, open on a magnificent confervatory, with 
marble floors, fountains, and a roof of glafs, about five times as big as Mrs. 
R.'s, tell E. The rooms are filled with the choiceft and moft delicate works 
of art, painting, fculpture, bijouterie of all kinds. It is the temple of Tafte, and 
its charming miftrefs created it all. As I was coming away, fhe asked me to 
walk with her into the garden, and led me to a fpot where feveral men were at 
work having a great hole prepared. A large evergreen tree was held up by the 
gardener, and I was requefted to help fet it in the place and to throw fome 
movelfuls of earth on it. In facl:, I was to leave an evergreen memorial, 
" which," faid fhe, " my children fhall fee hereafter, and know by whom it 
was planted." She chofe to accompany us to the ftation, and by the way took 
us to the great porcelain manufactory of Stoke, where fhe gave Will a ftatuette 
of the Prince of Wales, very pretty, and me an exquifite little vafe, which you 
will be fo happy as to take care of under a glafs cover. Her own rooms contain 
fome beautiful fpecimens of them. Is fhe not a Duchefs ? She is, every inch 
of her; and what is better, a moft warm-hearted, affectionate perfon, like all the 
reft of the generous race of Howard. They always feem employed on fome- 
thing. The Duchefs of Argyll, I remember, was never unemployed, — reading, 
or working, or drawing, which fhe does uncommonly well. The tendernefs of 
the mother and daughter for each other is pleafing enough. We came to be 
prefent at the chriftening of the hope of the family, — Lord Stafford's firft-born 
fon. It took place in the church, which is attached to a wing of the manfion. 
The family occupied a gallery at the end of the chapel, and the ceremony was 
witnefted by all the village. 

I had intended to go to Lord Ellefmere's, agreeably to a general invitation, but 



Visit to England. 



found that Lord and Lady Ellefmere were in Ireland, called there by the illnefs of 
a daughter. So we went to Chatfworth, the famous feat of the Duke of Dev- 
onfhire. He is abfent, but had written to the houfekeeper to mow us all the 
place, to have the fountains play, — one of which fprings up two hundred feet or 
more, — and to prepare lunch for me. I found the fervants prepared to receive 
us, and we patted feveral hours at his magnificent place, and fared as well as if 
its noble proprietor had been on the fpot to welcome us. I mail, after a day 
here, go to Lady Therefa Lewis, at Lord Clarendon's place, then to Baron 
i Parke's, Ampthill, for a day or two ; then to the Marquis of Lanfdowne's,3 and 
then huzza for home ! Pray for the good fteamer Niagara ; a good fteamer, 
and a good captain, and I truft a good voyage. 

Sept. 9th. — Juft received yours and E.'s charming letters ; — alas ! by my 
blunder, (the laft ?) I was ftartled by mother's illnefs. Thank God all is right 
again. I could not afford to have anything happen to her while I am away. 

Your affectionate hufband, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



And fo ended, in unbroken enjoyment, the moft brilliant 
vifit ever made to England by an American citizen not clothed 
with the prejiige of official ftation. 4 That Mr. Prefcott deeply 
felt the kindnefs he received — efpecially that of the Lyells, 
the Milmans, and "all the blood of all the Howards" — is 
plain from his letters, written in the confidence and fimplicity 
of family affection. How much of this kindnefs is to be attrib- 
uted to his perfonal character rather than to his reputation as 
an author, it is not eafy to tell. But, whatever portion of it re- 
fulted from the intercourfe and contact of fociety ; whatever was 



339 



Chap. XXIL 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

Chatfworth. 



I 

Tributesof kind- 
nefs and affec- 
tion. 



* The vifit to Lord Lanfdowne's failed ; 
but before he reached London he made 
a moll agreeable one at Baron Parke's, now 
Lord Wenfleydale. 

4 A whimfical proof that Mr. Prefcott 
was a lion in London during his vifit there 
may be found in the following note of the 
venerable Mifs Berrv, — Horace Walpole's 
Mifs Berry, — with whom Dean Milman 
had invited Mr. Prefcott and himfelf to 
dine, but, owing to Mr. P.'s engagements, 
he had been obliged to offer their vifit above 
a fortnight ahead of the time when he 
propofed it. 



MISS BERRY TO THE REV. MR. MILMAN. 
June 20, 1850. 

Having infured my life at more than 
one of the moft refpeclable infurance-com- 
panies, I venture to accept of your moft 
agreeable propofal for next Saturday fort- 
night ! and mail rejoice to fee you and 
Mrs. Milman accompanied by one whofe 
works I have long admired, and to whofe 
pen I am indebted for fome of the livelieft 
interefts and the moft agreeable hours that 
can exift for an octogenarian, like your 
obliged and attached friend, 

M. Berry. 



34° 



Chap. XXIT. 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 



Favorable view 
of Englifh 
chara&er. 



In country life. 



Rural taftes and 
habits. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



won by his funny fmile and cordial, unconftrained ways, — he 
feemed to recognize without accurately meafuring it, and by 
the finer inftincls of his nature to appreciate it as fomething 
more to be valued and defired, than any tribute of admiration 
which might have become due to him from his works before 
he was perfonally known. 

After he returned home, when the crowded life he had led 
for three or four months, with its pleafures and excitements, 
was feen from a tranquil diftance, he fummed up the refults of 
his vifit in the following pafTage, carefully recorded among his 
memoranda at the end of October, 1850. 

On the whole, what I have feen raifes my preconceived eftimate of the 
Englifh character. It is full of generous, true, and manly qualities; and I 
doubt if there ever was fo high a ftandard of morality in an ariftocracy which 
has fuch means for felf-indulgence at its command, and which occupies a pofi- 
tion that fecures it fo much deference. In general, they do not feem to abufe 
their great advantages. The refpect for religion — at leaft for the forms of it 
— is univerfal, and there are few, I imagine, of the great proprietors who are 
not more or lefs occupied with improving their eftates, and with providing for 
the comfort of their tenantry, while many take a leading part in the great po- 
litical movements of the time. There never was an ariftocracy which com- 
bined fo much practical knowledge and induftry with the advantages of exalted 
rank. 

The Englifhman is feen to moft advantage in his country home. For he 
is constitutionally both domeftic and rural in his habits. His firefide and his 
farm, — thefe are the places in which one fees his fimple and warm-hearted 
nature moft freely unfolded. There is a fhynefs in an Englifhman, — a natural 
referve, — which makes him cold to ftrangers, and difficult of approach. But 
once corner him in his own houfe, a frank and full expanfion will be given to 
his feelings, that we fhould look for in vain in the colder Yankee, and a depth 
not to be found in the light and fuperflcial Frenchman, — speaking of national- 
ities, not individualities. 

The Englifhman is the moft truly rural in his taftes and habits of any people 
in the world. I am fpeaking of the higher clafles. The ariftocracy of other 
countries affect the camp and the city. But the Englifh love their old caftles 
and country feats with a patriotic love. They are fond of country fports. 
Every man fhoots or hunts. No man is too old to be in the faddle fome part 
of the day, and men of feventy years and more follow the hounds and take a 
five-barred gate at a leap. The women are good whips, are fond of horfes 
and dogs, and other animals. DuchefTes have their cows, their poultry, their 
pigs, — all watched over and provided with accommodations of Dutch-like neat- 
nefs. All this is chara&eriftic of the people. It may be thought to detract 



English Character. 



fomething from the feminine graces which in other lands make a woman fo 
amiably dependent as to be nearly imbecile. But it produces a healthy and 
blooming race of women to match the hardy Englifhmen, — the fineft develop- 
ment of the phyfical and moral nature which the world has witnefTed. For we 
are not to look on the Englifh gentleman as a mere Nimrod. With all his 
relifh for field fports and country ufages, he has his houfe filled with collections 
of art and with extenfive libraries. The tables of the drawing-rooms are 
covered with the lateft works sent down by the London pubiifher. Every 
gueft is provided with an apparatus for writing, and often a little library of 
books for his own amufement. The Englifh country-gentleman of the prefent 
day is anything but a Squire Weftern, though he does retain all his relifh for 
field fports. 

The character of an Englifhman, under this its moft refined afpecl:, has fome dis- 
agreeable points which jar unpleafantly on the foreigner not accuftomed to them. 
The confcioufnefs of national fuperiority, combined with natural feelings of 
independence, gives him an air of arrogance, though it mult be owned that this 
is never betrayed in his own houfe, — I may almoft fay, in his own country. 
But abroad, where he feems to inftitute a comparifon between himfelf and the 
people he is thrown with, it becomes fo obvious that he is the moft unpopular, 
not to fay odious, perfon in the world. Even the open hand with which he dif- 
penfes his bounty will not atone for the violence he offers to national vanity. 

There are other defects which are vifible even in his moft favored circum- 
ftances. Such is his bigotry, furpafting everything, in a quiet paffive form, that 
has been witnefTed fince the more active bigotry of the times of the Spanifh 
Philips. Such, too, is the exclufive, limited range of his knowledge and con- 
ceptions of all political and focial topics and relations. The Englifhman, the 
cultivated Englifhman, has no ftandard of excellence borrowed from mankind. 
His fpeculation never travels beyond his own little — great-little — ifland. 
That is the world to him. True, he travels, fhoots lions among the Hottentots, 
chafes the grizzly bear over the Rocky Mountains, kills elephants in India and 
falmon on the coaft of Labrador, comes home, and very likely makes a book. 
But the fcope of his ideas does not feem to be enlarged by all this. The body 
travels, not the mind. And, however he may abufe his own land, he returns 
home as hearty a John Bull, with all his prejudices and national taftes as 
rooted as before. The Englifh — the men of fortune — all travel. Yet how 
little fympathy they fhow for other people or inftitutions, and how flight is the 
intereft they take in them ! They are iflanders, cut off" from the great world. 
But their ifland is, indeed, a world of its own. With all their faults, never 
has the fun fhone — if one may ufe the expreflion in reference to England 
— on a more noble race, or one that has done more for the great interefts of 
humanity. 



341 



Chap. XXII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Difagreeable 
parts of the 
Englifh char- 
after. 



Noblenefs of the 
Englifh char- 
after. 



34 2 



Chap.XXIII. 

1850. 
At. 54. 

Voyage home. 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

185O- 1852. 

Voyage Home. — Letters to Friends in England. — Begins to work again. 
— Pepper ell. — cc Philip the Second." — Correspondence. 

N the 14th of September, Mr. Prefcott em- 
barked at Liverpool, to return home, on board 
^ the Niagara, — the fame good fhip on which 
he had embarked for Europe nearly four 
months earlier at New York, and in which 
he now reached that metropolis again, after 
a fortunate paffage of thirteen days. At Liverpool he flopped, 
as he did on his arrival there, at the hofpitable houfe of his 
old friend Smith; and the laft letter he wrote before he went 
on board the fteamer, and the firft he defpatched back to 
England, after he was again fairly at home, were to Lady 




Letters to Lady Lyell. 



, Lyell, with whom and Sir Charles he had probably fpent 
more hours in London than with anybody elfe, and to both 
of whom he owed unnumbered a6ls of kindnefs. 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Liverpool, September 13, 1850. 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
I am now at Liverpool, or rather in the fuburbs, at my friend's houfe. It is 
after midnight, but I cannot go to fleep without bidding you and your hufband 
one more adieu. I reached here about five o'clock, and find there are feventy 
paflengers ; feveral ladies, or perfons that I hope are fo, for they are not men. 
But I look for little comfort on the reftlefs deep. I hope, however, for a fair offing. 
You will think of me fometimes during the next fortnight, and how often mail 
I think of you, and your conftant kindnefs to me ! You fee I am never tired of 
afking for it, as I fent you the troublefome commiilion of paying my debts before 
I left, and, I believe, did not fend quite money enough. Heaven blefs you ! 
With kind remembrances to Sir Charles, believe me, my dear friend, 
Moft affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 
Can you make out my hieroglyphics ? l 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Bofton, September 30, 1850. 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
I write you a line to tell you of my fafe arrival on the other fide of the great 
pond — I beg pardon — lake. We had a fair paflage, confidering the feafon, 
fome thumping and tumbling about and conftant head-winds, but no very heavy 
gales, fuch as fall due at the equinox. I was lucky enough to find a lady on 
board who was not fick, and who was willing to read aloud ; fo the ennui of the 
voyage was wonderfully lightened by " Vanity Fair " and Mr. Cumming's lion- 
ftories. I had the good fortune to find all well on returning, and the atmofphere 
was lighted up with a funny light, fuch as I never faw on the other fide of the 
water, at leaft during my prefent journey. I do not believe it will be as good 
for my eyes as the comfortable neutral tints of England, — merry England, not 
from its climate, however, but from the warm hearts of its people. God blefs 
them ! I have no time to think over matters now, bufy in the midft of trunks 
and portmanteaus, fome emptying, fome filling, for our fpeedy flight to Pepperell. 
But once in its welcome (hades, I fhall have much to think 



over, — of dear 



343 



1 This letter was written with his no&ograph. 



Chap.XXIII 

1850. 
At. 54. 



Farewel 



Voyage home. 



344 



Chap.XXIIL 

1850. 
Mt. 54. 

Sir Henry Hol- 
land. 



Vilit to Belgium. 



Country life in 
England. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



friends beyond the water. Yefterday, who fhould pop in upon me but Dr. Hol- 
land, frefh from Lake Superior. It feemed like an apparition from Brook Street, 
fo foon and fudden. He and Everett and Ticknor will dine with me to-day, and 
we mail have a comfortable talk of things moft agreeable to us all. Dr. H. 
fails in the " Canada " to-morrow. The grafs does not grow under his feet. 
I fent Anna Ticknor yefterday the beautiful prefent, all in good order. She went 
down in the afternoon to her fea-neft, and her hufband comes up to-day. 
Poflibly (he may come and dine with us too. She was right glad to fee me, 
and had a thoufand queftions to afk; fo I hope fhe will come and get anfwers to 
fome of them to-day. To-morrow we flit, and a party of young people go 
along with us. So we {hall not be melancholy. Adieu, my dear friend. Pray 
remember me moft kindly to your hufband and your family. My wife joins in 
loving remembrances to you, and defires to thank you for your kind note. 
Believe me, my dear Lady Lyell, here and everywhere, 

Affectionately yours, 

Wm. 



H. Prescott. 



I fhall write them from 



Give my love to the Milmans, when they return, 
Pepperell. 

Very foon he wrote to Dean Milman. 



Pepperell, Mafs., O&ober 10, 1850. 

My dear Friend, 

I have at length reached my native land, and am again in my country quar- 
ters, wandering over my old familiar hills, and watching the brilliant changes of 
the leaf in the forefts of October, the fineft of the American months. This 
rural quiet is very favorable for calling up the paft, and many a friendly face on 
the other fide of the water comes up before me, and none more frequently than 
yours and that of your dear wife. 

Since I parted from you, I have been tolerably induftrious. I firft pafTed a 
week in Belgium, to get fome acquaintance with the topography of the country 
I am to defcribe. It is a wonderful country certainly, — rich in its prefent 
abundance as well as in its beautiful monuments of art and its hiftoric recollec- 
tions. On my return to England, I went at once into the country, and fpent 
fix weeks at different places, where I faw Englifh life under a totally new afpecl:. 
The country is certainly the true place in which to fee the Englimman. It is 
there that his peculiar character feems to have the beft field for its expanfion ; 
a life which calls out his energies phyfical as well as mental, the one almoft as 
remarkable as the other. 

The country life affords the opportunity for intimacy, which it is very diffi- 
cult to have in London. There is a depth in the Englifh character, and at the 
fame time a conftitutional referve, fometimes amounting to fhynefs, which it 
requires fome degree of intimacy to penetrate. As to the hofpitality, it is quite 
equal to what we read of in femi-civilized countries, where the prefence of a 



Letter to Dean Milman. 



ftranger is a boon inftead of a burden. I could have continued to live in this 
agreeable way of life till the next meeting of Parliament, if I could have fettled 
it with my confcience to do fo. As to the houfes, I think I faw fome of the 
beft places in England, in the North and in the South, with a very interesting 
dip into the Highlands, and I truft I have left fome friends there that will not 
let the memory of me pafs away like a fummer cloud. In particular, I have 
learned to comprehend what is meant by " the blood of the Howards," — 
a family in all its extent, as far as I have feen it, as noble in nature as in 
birth 

I had a pretty good paflage on my return, confidering that it was the feafon 
of equinoctial tempefts. I was fortunate in finding that no trouble or forrow 
had come into the domeftic circle fince my departure, and my friends were 
pleafed to find that I had brought home fubftantial proofs of Englifh hofpitality 
in the addition of fome ten pounds' weight to my mortal part. By the bv, Lord 
Carlifle told the Queen that I faid, " Inftead of John Bull, the Englifhman 
fhould be called John Mutton, for he ate beef only one day in the week, and 
mutton the other fix " ; at which her Majefty, who, ftrange to fay, never eats 
mutton herfelf, was pleafed to laugh moft gracioufly. 

The dav after I reached Bofton I was furprifed by the apparition of my old 
neighbor, Dr. Holland, juft returned from an excurfion to Lake Superior. It 
was as if a piece of Brook Street had parted from its moorings, and crofled the 
water. We were in a tranfition ftate, juft flitting to the country, but I man- 
aged to have him, Everett, and Ticknor dine with me. So we had a pleafant 
partie carree to talk over our friends on the other fide of the fait lake. What 
would I not give to have you and Mrs. Milman on this fide of it. Perhaps 
you may have leifure and curiofity fome day, when the paflage is reduced to a 
week, as it will be, to fee the way of life of the American aborigines. If you 
do not, you will ftill be here in the heart of one who can never forget the kind- 
nefs and love he has experienced from you in a diftant land. 

Pray remember me moft affectionately to Mrs. Milman, to whom I fhall foon 
write, and believe me, my dear friend, 

Very fincerely yours, 

W. H. Prescott. 



He found it fomewhat difficult to fettle down into regular 
habits of induftry after his return home. But he did it. His 
nrft weeks were fpent at Pepperell, where I recollect that I 
palled two or three merry days with him, when our common 
friend, Mr. Edward Twiileton, who had been very kind to 
him in England, made him a vifit, and when the country was 
in all the gorgeous livery of a New England autumn. 

The fubfequent winter, 1850-51, was fpent as ufual, in 
Bofton. But his eyes were in a bad ftate, and his interrup- 

44 



345 



Chap.XXIII. 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 



Sir H. Holland 



Pepperell. 

Hon. E. Twiile- 
ton. 



34 6 



Chap.XXIII 


1850. 
JEt. 54. 


Difficult to re- 
fume work. 



Finifhes the firft 
volume of 
" Philip the 
Second." 



Determines to 
write Hiftory, 
and not Me- 
moirs. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



tions fo frequent, that he found it impoffible to fecure as many 
hours every day for work as he defired. He therefore was 
not fatisfied with the refults he obtained, and complained, as 
he often did, fomewhat unreafonably, of the ill effects of a 
town life. Indeed, it was not until he made his villeggiatura 
at Pepperell, in the autumn of 1851, that he was content with 
himfelf and with what he was doing. 

But from this time he worked in earneft. He made good 
refolutions and kept them with more exactnefs than he had 
commonly done; io that, by the middle of April, 1852, he had 
completed the firft volume of his " Philip the Second," and was 
plunging with fpirit into the fecond. I remember very well 
how heartily he enjoyed this period of uncommon activity. 

It was at this time, and I think partly from the effect of his 
vilit to England, that he changed his purpofe concerning the 
character he mould give to his "Hiftory of Philip the Second." 
When he left home he was quite decided that the work 
ihould be Memoirs. Soon after his return he began to talk to 
me doubtfully about it. His health was better, his courage 
higher. But he was always flow in making up his mind. He 
therefore went on fome months longer, ftill really undeter- 
mined, and writing rather memoirs than hiftory. At laft, 
when he was finifhing the firft volume, and came to con- 
front the great fubject of the Rebellion of the Netherlands, 
he perceived clearly that the graveft form of hiftory ought to 
be adopted. 

" For fome time after I had finifhed the c Peru,' " he fays, " I hefitated 
whether I mould grapple with the whole fubject of Philip in extenfo ; and when 
I had made up my mind to ferve up the whole barbecue, inftead of particular 
parts of it, I had fo little confidence in the ftrength of my own vifion, that 
I thought of calling the work c Memoirs ' and treating the fubject in a more 
defultory and fuperncial manner than belongs to regular hiftory. I did not go to 
work in a bufinefs-like ftyle until I broke ground on the troubles of the Nether- 
lands. Perhaps my critics may find this out." 

I think they did not. Indeed, there was lefs occafion for 
it than the author himfelf fuppofed. The earlier portions of 



Letter to Mr. Ford. 



the hiftory, relating as they do to the abdication of Charles V. 
and the marriage of Philip with Mary of England, fell natu- 
rally into the tone of memoirs, and thus they make a more 
graceful veftibule to the grand and grave events that were to 
follow than could otherwife have been arranged for them, 
while, at the fame time, as he advanced into the body of his 
work and was called on to account for the war with France, 
and defcribe the battles of St. Quentin and Gravelines, he, as 
it were, inevitably fell into the more ferious tone of hiftory, 
which had been fo long familiar to him. The tranfition, 
therefore, was eafy, and was befides io appropriate, that I think 
a change of purpofe was hardly detected. One effect of it, how- 
ever, was foon perceptible to himfelf. He liked his work bet- 
ter, and carried it on with the fort of intereft which he always 
felt was important, not only to his happinefs, but to his fuccefs. 
From this time forward — that is, from the period of his 
return home — his correfpondence becomes more abundant. 
This was natural, and indeed inevitable. He had made ac- 
quaintances and friendfhips in England, which led to fuch 
intercourfe, and the letters that followed from it mow the 
remainder of his life in a light clearer and more agreeable 
than it can be fhown in any other way. Little remains, 
therefore, but to arrange them in their proper fequence. 



TO MR. FORD. 

Pepperell, Mafs., U. S., Oftober 12, 1850. 

Here I am, my dear Ford, fafe and found in my old country quarters, with 
leifure to fpeak a word or two to a friend on the other fide of the Atlantic. 
I had a voyage of thirteen days, and pretty good weather for the moft part, con- 
fidering it was the month when I had a right to expect: to be tumbled about 
rudely by the equinoctial gales. We had fome rough gales, and my own com- 
pany were too much damaged to do much for me. But angel woman, God 
blefs her ! always comes when fhe is wanted, — and fometimes when me is not, 
— and I found one in a pretty little Yankee lady, who had the twofold qualifi- 
cations of being falt-water-proof, and of being a good reader. So, thanks to her, 
I travelled through "Vanity Fair" for the fecond time, and through Cumming's 



347 



Chap.XXIII 

1850. 
JEt. 54. 

The opening 
rather Me- 



Voyage home. 



34§ 



Chap.XXIII 

1850. 
JEr. 54. 

Pepperell. 



Whitebait din- 
ner. 



Lockhart and 
Stirling. 



Allfton's 
Sketches. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



African exploits, quite new to me. And fo killing his lions helped me to kill my 
time ; the worft enemy of the two. It was with a light heart, however, that 
I defcried the gray rocks of my native land again. 

I am now about forty miles from town, on my old family acres, which do not 
go back to the time of the Norman conqueft, though they do to that of the 
Aborigines, which is antiquity for a country where there are no entails and the 
fon feldom fits under the fhadow of the trees that his father planted. It is a 
plain New England farm, but I am attached to it, for it is connected with the 
earlieft recollections of my childhood, and the mountains that hem it round look 
at me with old familiar faces. I have had too many friends to greet me here to 
have as much time as I could wifh to myfelf, but as I wander through my old 
haunts, I think of the parr, fummer, and many a friendly countenance on the 
other fide of the water comes before me. Then I think of the pleafant hours 
I have had with you, my dear Ford, and of your many kindnefles, not to be for- 
gotten ; of our merry Whitebait feed with John Murray, at Royal Greenwich, 
which you are to immortalize one day, you know, in the " Quarterly," 

" So favage and tartarly." 

And that calls to mind that prince of good fellows, Stirling, and the laft agree- 
able little dinner we three had together at Lockhart's. Pray remember me moft 
kindly to the great Ariftarch and to Stirling. That was not my final parting 
with the latter worthy, for he did me the favor to fmoke me into the little hours 
the morning before I left London for my country campaign. And I had the 
pleafure of a parting breakfaft with you, too, in Brook Street, as you may recall, 
on my return. God blefs you both ! Some day or other I mail expect to fee 
you twain on this fide of the great fait lake, if it is only to hunt the grizzly bear, 
of which amiable fport John Bull will, no doubt, become very fond when Cum- 
ming has killed all the lions and camelopards of the Hottentot country. 

In about a fortnight I mail leave my naked woods for the town, and then for 
the Co/as de Efpana. And when I am fairly in harnefs, I do not mean to think 
of anything elfe; not even of my cockney friends in the great-little ifle. If there 
is any way in which I can poilibly be of ufe to you in the New World, you will 
not fail to tell me of it with all franknefs. Pray remember me moft kindly to 
your daughters. 

Y mande fiempre fu amigo quien le quiere de todo corazon 

Y. S. M. B. 

Guillermo H. Prescott. 



TO THE EARL OF 



CARLISLE. 

Bofton, November 12, 1850. 



My dear Carlisle, 

I have the pleafure of fending you Allfton's Sketches, of which I fpoke to you. 

They are the firft draughts of fome of his beft pictures ; among them the 



Letter from Mr. Lockhart. 



349 



1850. 
JEt. 54. 



" Uriel," which the Duchefs of Sutherland has at Trentham. Generallv, how- jChap.XXIIL 
ever, thev have remained mere fketches which the artift never worked up into 
regular pictures. Thev have been much efteemed by the critics here as fine 
ftudies, and the execution of this work was intrufted to two of our beft en- 
gravers. One of them is excellent with crayons ; 2 quite equal to Richmond 

in the portraits of women 

I now and then get a reminder of the land of roafl: mutton by the fight of 
fome one or other of your countrymen who emerges from the fteamers that 
arrive here every fortnight. We are, indeed, one family. Did I ever repeat 
to you Allfton's beautiful lines, one ftanza of the three which he wrote on the Allfton's poetry 
fubjecl: ? Les vo'ild ! 

" While the manners, while the arts, 
That mould a nation's foul, 
Still cling around our hearts, 
Between let ocean roll, 

Our joint communion breaking with the fun, 
Yet ftill from either beach 
The voice of blood mail reach, 
More audible than fpeech : 
1 We are one.' " 

Is it not good ? 

Farewell, my dear friend. I think of vou mixed up with Caftle Howard and 
brave old Naworth, and many a pleafant recollection. 
Once more, mio caro, addio. 

Always thine, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



FROM MR. LOCKHART. 



My dear Mr. Prescott, 

Your bafket of canvas-backs arrived here a day after your note, and the Canvas-back 
contents thereof proved to be in quite as good condition as they could have 
been if (hot three davs before in Leicefterfhire. I may fay I had never before 
tafted the dainty, and that I think it entirely merits its reputation ; but on this 
laft head, I prefume the ipfe dixit of Mailer Ford is " a voice double as any 
duke's." 

Very many thanks for your kind recollections. I had had very pleafing 
accounts of you and other friends from Holland on his return from his rapid 
expedition. He declares that, except the friends, he found everything fo 
changed, that your country feemed to call for a vifit once in five years, and 

2 Cheney. 



ducks. 



Changes in the 
United States, 



35o 



Chap.XXIII. 

1851. 
Mr. 54. 



Illuftrious 
Americans. 



Lord Carlifle's 
Ledlures. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



gallant is he in his refolution to invade you again in 1855. I wifh I could 
mufter leifure or pluck, or both, for fuch an adventure. Let me hope meanwhile 
that long ere '55 we may again fee you and Everett and Ticknor here, where 
furely you muft all feel very tolerably at home. 
Believe me always very fincerely yours, 

J. G. Lockhart. 

December 27, 1850. 



TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

Bofton, January 14, 1851. 

My dear Carlisle, 

I have the pleafure of fending you by this fteamer a work of which I happen 
to have two copies, containing the portraits of fome dozen Yankee notabilities, 
which may perhaps intereft you. The likenefles, taken from daguerrotypes, 
are fometimes frightfully, odioufly like. But fome of the heads, as thofe of 
Taylor, our prefent Prefident, befides being true, are not unpleafing likeneffes. 
The biographical fketches are written for the moft part, as you will fee, in the 
Ercles vein. My effigy was taken in New York, about an hour before I failed 
for England, when I had rather a rueful and lackadaifical afpecl:. The bio- 
graphical notice of me is better done than moft of them, in point of literary 
execution, being written by our friend Ticknor. 

Pray thank your brother Charles for his kindnefs in fending me out the reports 
of your Lectures. I, as well as the reft of your friends here, and many more 
that know you not, have read them with great pleafure, and, I truft, edification. 
The diflertation on your travels has been reprinted all over the country, and, as 
far as I know, with entire commendation. Indeed, it would be churlifh enough 
to take exception at the very liberal and charitable tone of criticifm which per- 
vades it. If you are not blind to our defects, it gives much higher value to your 
approbation, and you are no niggard of that, certainly. Even your reflections 
on the black plague will not be taken amifs by the South, fince they are of that 
abftracl: kind which can hardly be contefted, while you do not pafs judgment on 
the peculiar difficulties of our pofition, which confiderably difturbs the general 
queftion. Your remarks on me went to my heart. They were juft what 
I would wifh you to have faid, and, as I know they came from your heart, I will 
not thank you for them. On the whole, you have fet an excellent example, 
which, I truft, will be followed by others of your order. But few will have it in 
their power to do good as widely as you have done, fince there are very few 
whofe remarks will be read as extenfively, and with the fame avidity, on both 
fides of the water. 



Letter to Lord Carlisle. 



35i 



TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

Bofton, U. S., January 27, 1 85 1. 

My dear Carlisle, 

I wrote you from the country that, when I returned to town, I mould lofe no 
time in endeavoring to look up a good painting of the Falls of Niagara. I 
have not neglected this ; but, though I found it eafy enough to get paintings of 
the grand cataract, I have not till latelv been able to meet with what I wanted. 
I will tell vou how this came about. When Bulwer, your Minifter, was here, 
I afked him, as he has a good tafte in the arts, to fee if he could meet with any 
good picture of Niagara while he was in New York. Some time after, he wrote 
me that he had met with " a very beautiful picture of the Falls, bv a French- 
man." It fo happened, that I had feen this fame picture much commended in 
the New York papers, and I found that the artift's name was Lebron, a perfon 
of whom I happened to know fomething, as a letter from the Vifcount Santa- 
rem, in Paris, commended him to me as a " verv diftinguifhed artift," but the 
note arriving laft fummer, while I was abfent, I had never feen Mr. Lebron. I 

requefted mv friend, Mr. , of New York, on whofe judgment I place 

more reliance than on that of anv other connoifleur whom I know, and who 
has himfelf a verv prettv collection of pictures, to write me his opinion of the 
work. He fully confirmed Bulwer's report ; and I accordingly bought the 
picture, which is now in mv own houfe. 

It is about five feet by three and a half, and exhibits, which is the moft diffi- 
cult thing, an entire view of the Falls, both on the Canada and American fide. 
The great difficulty to overcome is the milky fhallownefs of the waters, where 
the foam diminifhes fo much the apparent height of the cataract. I think you 
will agree that the artift has managed this very well. In the diftance a black 
thunder-ftorm is burfting over Goat Ifland and the American Falls. A fteam 
boat, " The Maid of the Alift," which has been plving for fome years on the 
river below, forms an object by which the eye can meafure, in fome degree, the 
ftupendous proportions of the cataract. On the edge of the Horfefhoe Fall is 
the fragment of a ferrv-boat which, more than a year fince, was warned down to 
the brink of the precipice, and has been there detained until within a week, 
when, I fee bv the papers, it has been carried over into the abyfs. I mention 
thefe little incidents that you may underftand them, being fomething different 
from what you faw when you were at Niagara ; and perhaps you may recognize 
fome change in the form of the Table-Rock itfelf, fome tons of which, carrying 
away a carriage and horfes ftanding on it at the time, flipped into the gulf a year 
or more fince. 

I (hall fend the painting out by the " Canada," February 12th, being the firft 
fteamer which leaves this port for Liverpool, and, as I have been rather unlucky 
in fome of my confignments, I think it will be as fafe to addrefs the box at 
once to you, and it will await your order at Liverpool, where it will probably 
arrive the latter part of February. 

I fhall be much difappointed if it does not pleafe vou well enough to hang 
upon your walls as a faithful reprefentation of the great cataract ; and I truft 



Chap.XXHI. 



185 
JEt. 



54- 



Picture of the 
Falls of Ni- 
agara. 



Difficulties of 
fubjecl:. 



352 



Chap.XXIIL 

1851. 
At. 55- 



Addrefs of the 
Duke of Ar 

gyii. 



Mr. Sumner's 
election to 
the Senate of 
the United 
States. 



Englifh politics. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



you will gratify me by accepting it as a fouvenir of your friend acrofs the water. 
I affure you it pleafes me much to think there is anything I can fend you from 

this quarter of the world which will give you pleafure 

Pray remember me molt affectionately to your mother and fifter, who, I fup- 
pofe, are now in town with you. 
And believe me, deareft Carlifle, 

Ever faithfully yours, 

W. H. Prescott. 



TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

Bofton, May 29, 185 1. 

My dear Carlisle, 

I am off in a couple of days for the great cataract. I like to refrefh my 
recollections of it every few years by a vifit in perfon ; and I have a pleafant 
party to accompany me. I wifh you were one of them. How I mould like to 
ftroll through the woods of Goat Ifland with you, my dear Carlifle, and talk over 
the pleafant paft, made fo pleafant the laft year by you and yours. By the by, the 
Duke of Argyll fent me an Addrefs which he made fome time fince at Glafgow, 
in which he made the kindeft mention of me. It was a very fenfible difcourfe, 
and I think it would be well for the country if more of the ariftocracy were to 
follow the example, which you and he have fet, of addremng the people on 
other topics befides thofe of a political or agricultural nature, — the two great 
hobbies of John Bull. 

So you perceive Sumner is elected after twenty ballotings. His pofition will 
be a difficult one. He reprefents a coalition of the Democratic and Free-Soil 
parties, who have little relation to one another. And in the Senate the par- 
ticular doctrine which he avows finds no favor. I believe it will prove a bed 
filled more with thorns than with rofes. I had a long talk with him yefterday, 
and I think he feels it himfelf. It is to his credit that he has not committed 
himfelf by any conceffions to fecure his election. The difficulty with Sumner 
as a ftatefman is, that he aims at the greateft abftract good inftead of the greateft 
good practicable. By fuch a policy he miffes even this lower mark ; not a low 
one either for a philanthropift and a patriot. 

You and your friends ftill continue to manage the fhip notwithstanding the 
rough feas you have had to encounter. I mould think it muff be a perplexing 
office until your parties affume fome more determinate character, fo as to throw 
a decided fupport into the government fcale. 

Pray remember me moft affectionately to your mother and to Lady Mary, 
and to the Duchefs of Sutherland, whom I fuppofe you fee often, and be- 
lieve me, mv dear Carlifle, 



Always moft affectionately your friend, 



W. H. Prescott. 



Letter to Mrs. Milman. 



TO MRS. MILMAN. 



Bofton, February 16, 1852. 



How kind it was in you, my dear Mrs. Milman, to write me fuch a good 
letter, and I am afraid you will think little deferved by me. But if I have not 
written, it is not that I have not thought often of the happy days I have pafTed 
in your fociety and in that of my good friend the Dean, — God blefs you both ! 
You congratulated me on the engagement of my daughter. 3 It is a fatisfactory 
circumftance for us every way; and the character of the fiance is fuch, I believe, 
as to promife as much happinefs to the union as one could expect. Yet it is a 
hard thing to part with a daughter, — an only daughter, — the light of one's 
home and one's heart. The boys go off, as a thing of courfe ; for man is a 
migratory animal. But a woman feems part of the houfehold fixtures. Yet a 
little reflection makes us feel that a good connection is far better than fingle 
bleffednefs, efpecially in our country, where matrimony is the deftiny of fo nearly 
all, that the few exceptions to it are in rather a lonely and anomalous pofition. 

What a delightful tour you muff have had in Italy ! It reminds me of wan- 
dering over the fame funny land, five and thirty years ago, — a prodigious remi- 
nifcence. It is one of the charms of your fituation that you have but to crofs 
a narrow ftrait of fome twenty miles to find yourfelf tranfported to a region as 
unlike your own as the moon, — and, to fay truth, a good deal more unlike. 
This laft coup d'etat fhows, as Scriblerus fays, 

"None but themfelves can be their parallel." 

I am very glad to learn from your letter that the Dean is making good pro- 
grefs in the continuation of his noble work. I have always thought it very 
creditable to the government that it has beftowed its church dignities on one fo 
liberal and tolerant as your hufband. I do not think that the royal patronage 
always dares to honor thofe in the Church, whom the world moft honors. 

Have you feen Macaulay of late ? He told me that he mould not probably 
make his bow to the public again before 1853. ^ ^ eems tnat ms conjecture was 
not wrong, the falfe newfpapers notwithstanding. But one learns not to 
believe a thing, for the reason that it is affirmed in the newfpapers. Our for- 
mer Minifter, Bancroft, has a volume in the prefs, a continuation of his Ameri- 
can hiftory, which will ferve as a counterpart to Lord Mahon's, exhibiting the 
other fide of the tapeftry. 

I hope hiftory is in poffeflion of all the feuds that will ever take place between 
the two kindred nations. In how amiable a way the correfpondence about the 
Prometheus has been conducted by Lord Granville ! John Bull can afford to 
make apology when he is in the wrong. The prefent ftate of things in Europe 
mould rather tend to draw the only two great nations where conftitutional liberty 
exifts more clofely together. 

of the United 



* His only daughter to Mr. James Law- 
rence, eldeil ion of Mr. Abbott Lawrence, 
45 



who was then Minifter 
States in London,, 



353 



Chap.XXIH 

1852. 

JEt. 55. 



Engagement of 
Mifs Prefcott 



Italy. 



Dean Milman's 
Hiftory of 
Latin Chrif- 
tianity. 

Macaulay. 



Bancroft. 



England and the 
United States. 



354 



Chap.XXIIL 

1852. 
JEt. 55. 

Hallam. 



Mifs Prefcott's 
marriage. 



Englifh politics. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



I am very glad that our friend Mr. Hallam is to have the fatisfaction of feeing 
his daughter fo well married. He has had many hard blows, and this ray of 
funfhine will, I hope, light up his domeftic hearth for the evening of life. Pray 
prefent my congratulations moft fincerely to him and Mifs Hallam. 

We are now beginning to be bufy with preparations for my daughter's ap- 
proaching nuptials, which will take place, probably, in about a month, if fome 
Paris toggery, furniture, &c, as indifpenfable as a bridegroom or a prieft, it 
feems, come in due time. The affair makes a merry ftir in our circle, in the 
way of feftive parties, balls, and dinners. But in truth there is a little weight 
lies at the bottom of my heart when I think that the feat at her own board is 
to be forever vacant. Yet it is but a migration to the next ftreet. How 
can parents confent to a match that places an ocean betwixt them and their 
children ? 

But I muft bring my profy talk to a clofe. I feel, now that I have my pen in 
hand, that I am by your fide, with your hufband and your family, and our 
friends the Lyells ; or perhaps rambling over the grounds of royal Windfor, or 
through dark paflages in the Tower, or the pleafant haunts of Richmond Hill ; 
at the genial table of the charming lady " who came out in Queen Anne's day," 
or many other places with which your memory and your hulband's, your kindly 
countenances and delightful talk, are all aflbciated. When I lay my head on 
my pillow, the forms of the dear friends gather round me, and fometimes I have 
the good luck to fee them in midnight vifions, — and I wake up and find it all 
a dream. 

Pray remember me moft kindly to the Dean and your fons, and to Lady 
Lyell, whom, I fuppofe, you often fee, and believe me, my dear Mrs. Milman, 
Always moft affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

Bofton, April 7, 1852. 

Dearest Carlisle, 

Lawrence wrote me a little while fince that you remarked you could now fay 
for once that I was in your debt. It may be fo ; but I wonder if I have not 
given you two to one, or fome fuch odds. But no matter ; in friendfhip, as in 
love, an exact tally is not to be demanded. 

Since I had laft the pleafure of hearing from you, there has been a great 
revolution in your affairs, and the ins have become outs. Is it not an awkward 
thing to be obliged to face about, and take juft the oppofite tacks ; to be always 
on the attack inftead of the defence ! What a change ! Firft to break with 
your Minifter of Foreign Affairs, who was in fo much glory, fighting the battle 
fo ftoutly when I was in London ! And then to break up altogether, and fur- 
render the field to the Prote£tionifts ! We are moft of us prote£tionifts, more 



Letter to Lord Carlisle. 



or lefs, in my part of the country, with which doctrines I found very little fym- 
pathy when I was in England. I wonder if that policy can poffibly get the 
upper hand again with you. The revocare gradum is always a difficult ftep, 
more difficult than any two forward. Can the prefent Cabinet poffibly ftand on 
one leg, and that the lame one of protection ? We at the North have long 
been trying to get the fcale of duties raifed, but in vain. Nil retrorfum. What 
hot work you will have in the coming election ! It would be almoft worth a 
vovage to fee. Yet I doubt if any candidate will fpend a hundred thoufand 
upon it, as was the cafe, I believe, in your own county not many years ago. 

Sumner has not been anxious to make a display in Congrefs. In this he has 
judged well. The feffion has been a tame one, fo far. He made a fhort fpeech 
on the KofTuth bufinefs, and a very good one ; — fince that, a more elaborate 
effort on the diftribution of our wild lands, fo as to favor the new, unfettled 
States. According to our way of thinking, he was not fo fuccefsful here. I 
fuppofe he provides you with his parliamentary eloquence. We are expecting 
KofTuth here before long. I am glad he takes us laff. I mould be forry that 
we mould get into a fcrape by any ill-advifed enthufiafm. He has been preach- 
ing up doctrines of intervention (called by him non-intervention) by no means 
fuited to our policy, which, as our pofition affords us the means of keeping 
aloof, mould be to warn our hands of all the troubles of the Old World. 

What troubles you are having now, in France efpecially. But revolu- 
tion is the condition of a Frenchman's exiftence apparently. Can that country 
long endure the prefent ftate of things, — the days of Auguftus Csefar over 
again ? 

Have you feen Bancroft's new volume ? I think this volume, which has his 
chara£t.eriftic merits and defects, fhowy, fketchy, and full of bold fpeculations, 
will have intereft for you. Lord Mahon is on the fame field, furveying it from 
an oppofite point of view. So we are likely to have the American Revolution 
well diffected by able writers on oppofite fides at the fame time. The refult 
will probably be doubt upon everything. 

In the newfpaper of to-day is a letter, to be followed by two others, addreffed 
to Brvant, the poet-editor of the New York " Evening Poft," from Sparks, 
himfelf the editor of Wafhington's papers. I think you muff have known Sparks 
here. He is now the Prefident of Harvard Univerfity, the poft occupied by 
Everett after his return. Sparks h"*s been fharply handled for the corruption of the 
original text of Wafhingtoii. . ■ speared by comparifons of fome of the originals 
with his printed copy. Lor ; Mahon, among others, has fome fevere ftrifiures 
on him in his laft volume. • arks's letters are in vindication of himfelf, on the 
ground that the alteration^ are merely verbal, to correct bad grammar and 
obvious blunders, which Washington would have corrected himfelf, had he pre- 
pared his correfpondence for the prefs. He makes out a fair cafe for himfelf, 
and any one who knows the integrity of Sparks will give him credit for what he 
ftates. As he has fome reflections upon Lord Mahon's rafh criticifm, as he 
terms it, I doubt not he will fend him a copy, or I would do it, as I think he 
would like to fee the explanation. 

I fuppofe you breakfaft fometimes with Macaulay, and that he dines fome- 



355 



Chap.XXIII 

1852. 
Mr. 55- 



Sumner. 



KofTuth. 



Bancroft. 
Lord Mahon. 



Sparks. 



Macaulay. 



56 



Chap.XXIII. 

1852. 

JEt. 55- 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



times with you. I wifh I could be with you at both. I fuppofe he is bufy 
on his new volume. When will the new brace be bagged ? I remember he 
prophefied to me not before 1853, an d I was ver y g^d t0 hear from him, that 
his great fuccefs did not make him hurry over that hiftoric ground. A year or 
two extra is well fpent on a work deftined to live forever. 

And now, my dear friend, I do not know that there is anything here that I 
can tell you of that will much intereft you. I am poddering over my book ; 
ftill Philippizing. But " it is a far cry to Loch Awe " ; which place, far as it is, 
by the by, I faw on my laft vifit to Europe under fuch delightful aufpices, with 
the Lord of the Campbells and his lovely lady, God preferve them ! I have 
been quite induftrious, for me, this winter, in fpite of hymeneal merry-making, 
and am now on my fecond volume. But it is a terrible fubjecl, fo large and 
diffufe, — the ftory of Europe. I told Bentley to fend Lady Mary a copy of 
my " Mifcellanies " two months fince, which contains an engraved portrait of 
me from a picture by Phillips, painted when in London for Mr. Stirling. The 
engraving is a good one ; better, I fufpecl:, than the likenefs 

You will think, by the length of my yarn, that I really think you are returned 
to private life again, and have nothing in the world to do. But a hoft of pleafant 
recollections gather round me while I converfe with you acrofs the waters, and 
I do not like to break the fpell. But it is time. I muft not clofe without 
thanking you for the kind congratulations which you fent me fome weeks fince 
on my daughter's approaching nuptials. It is all over now, and I am childlefs, 
and yet fortunate, if it muft be fo. Does not your fifter the Duchefs part with 
her laft unmarried daughter very foon ? The man is fortunate, indeed, who is 
to have fuch a bride. Pray fay all that is kind for me to the Duchefs, whofe 
kindnefs to me is among the moft cherifhed of my recollections in my pleafant 
vifit to merry England. 

Farewell, dear Carlifle. Believe me always 

Affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Bofton, April 18, 1852. 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
Since I laft wrote, we have had another wedding in my family, as you have no 
doubt heard. Indeed, you prove how well you are pofted up about us, and the 
kind part you take in our happinefs, by the little fouventr which you f ent to 
Lizzy at the time of the marriage. 4 We like to have the fympathy of thofe 
who are dear to us in our joys and our forrows. I am fure we mall always 
have yours in both, though I hope it will be long before we have to draw on it 
for the latter. Yet when did the fun fhine long without a cloud, — lucky, if 

4 The marriage of his only daughter to Mr. Lawrence, already mentioned. 



Letter to Lady Lyell. 



357 



without a tempeft. We have had one cloud in our domeftic circle the 



ni°;ht, in the ftate of my mother's health. She was confined to the 



laft fort- 
houfe this 



fpring by an injury, in itfelf not important, to her leg. But the inaction, to 
which fhe is fo little accuftomed, has been followed by lofs of ftrength, and me 
does not rally as I wifh (he did. Should fummer ever blefs us, of which I have 
my doubts, I truft fhe will regain the ground fhe has loft. But I guefs and 
fear ! Eighty-five is a heavy load ; hard to rife under. It is like the old man in 
the Arabian Nights, that poor Sinbad could not fhake off from his moulders. 
Elizabeth's marriage has given occafion to a good deal of merry-making, and 
our little fociety has been quite aftir, in fpite of Lent. Indeed, the only Faft- 
day which the wicked Unitarians keep is that appointed by the Governor as the 
" day of faffing, humiliation, and prayer." It comes always in April. We 
keep it fo appropriately, that I could not help remarking the other day, that 
it would be a pity to have it abolifhed, as we have fo few fete days in our ! 
country. 



Chap.XXHI 

1852. 
Mr. 55. 

,Mrs. Prefcott, 
fenior. 




358 



Chap.XXIV, 



Political opin- 
ions. 




Political Opinions. 
Mr. Sumner. — 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

1852. 

— Correfpondence with Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Everett, and 
Conversation on Political Subjetls. 



F Mr. Prefcott's political opinions there is lit- 
tle to be faid. That he was fincerely and 
faithfully attached to his country — to his 
whole country — nobody ever doubted who 
heard him fpeak on the fubjecl:. His letters 
when he was in England, flattered as few men 
have been by Englifh hofpitality, are as explicit on this point 
as was the expreffion of his every-day feelings and thoughts at 
home. But, with all his patriotic loyalty, he took little inter- 
eft in the paffing quarrels of the political parties that, at dif- 
ferent times, divided and agitated the country. They were a 




Political Relations. 



difturbing element in the quiet, earneft purfuit of his ftudies ; 
and fuch elements, whatever they might be, or whencefoever 
they might come, he always rejected with a peculiar fenfitive- 
nefs ; anxious, under all circumftances, to maintain the even, 
happy ftate of mind to which his nature feemed to entitle 
him, and which he found important to continuous work. He 
was wont to fay, that he dealt with political difcuffions only 
when they related to events and perfons at leaft two centuries 
old. 

Of friends who were eminent in political affairs he had 
not a few ; but his regard for them did not reft on political 
grounds. With Mr. Everett, whom he knew early during 
his college life, and who, as Secretary of State, reprefented the 
old Whig party, he had always the moft kindly intercourfe, 
and received from him, as we have feen, while that gentleman 
was refiding in Italy in 1840 and 1841, and fubfequently while 
he fo ably reprefented the United States as our Minifter in 
London, efficient affiftance in collecting materials for the "Hif- 
tory of Philip the Second/' With Mr. Bancroft, who had an 
inherited claim on his regard, and whom he knew much from 
1822, he flood in relations fomewhat more intimate and fa- 
miliar, and always maintained them, though he never fympa- 
thized with his friend in the decidedly democratical tendencies 
that have marked his brilliant career as a ftatefman. With 
Mr. Sumner his perfonal acquaintance began later, — not till 
the return of that gentleman from Europe in 1840; but, from 
the firft, it was cordial, and in the laft two or three years of 
his life he took much intereft in the queftions that arofe 
about Kanfas, and voted for Mr. Fremont as Prefident in 
preference to either of the other candidates. During his 
whole life, however, he belonged effentially, both in his polit- 
ical feelings and in his political opinions, as his father always 
did, to the confervative fchool of Wafhington and Hamilton, 
as its doctrines are recorded and developed in the "Federalift." 

With the three eminent men juft referred to, whom all will 
recognize as marking with the luftre of their names the oppo- 



359 



Chap.XXIV. 



Political friends. 



360 



Chap.XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Political life. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



fite corners of the equilateral triangle formed by the three 
great political parties that at different times during Mr. Pref- 
cott's life preponderated in the country, he had a correfpond- 
ence, fometimes interrupted by the changing circumftances of 
their refpective pofitions, but always kindly and interefting. 
The political queftions of the day appeared in it, of courfe, 
occasionally. But whenever this occurred, it was rather by 
accident than otherwife. The friendfhip of the parties had 
been built on other foundations, and always refted on them 
fafely. 

The earlieft letters to Mr. Bancroft that I have feen are 
two or three between 1824 and 1828 ; but they are unimpor- 
tant for any purpofes of biography. The next one is of 1831, 
and is addreffed to Northampton, Maifachufetts, where Mr. 
Bancroft then lived. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 



My dear Friend, 



Bofton, April 30, 1831. 



We jog on in much the fame way here, and, as we are none of us Jackfonists, 
care little for the upfetting of cabinets, or any other mad pranks, which doubt- 
lefs keep you awake at Northampton, for I perceive you are doing as many a 
mifguided man has done before you, quitting the fweets of letters for the thorny 
path of politics. I muft fay I had rather drill Greek and Latin into little boys 
all my life, than take up with this trade in our country. However, fo does not 

think Mr. , nor Mr. , nor Mr. &c, &c, &c, who are much better 

qualified to carry off all the prizes in literature than I can be. Your article on 
the Bank of the United States produced quite a fenfation, and a confiderable 
contrariety of opinion. 1 Where will you break out next ? I did not think to 
fee you turn out a financier in your old age ! I have juft recovered from a fit 
of ficknefs, which has confined me to my bed for a fortnight. I think the 
weather will confine me to the houfe another fortnight. Do you mean to 
make a flying trip to ou? latitudes this vacation ? We mould be glad to fee 
you. In the mean time I muft beg you to commend me to your wife, and 
believe me, 

Moft affectionately your friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

1 An article in the " North American Review," by Mr. Bancroft. 



Letter to Mr. Bancroft. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 



My dear Bancroft, 



Pepperell, O&ober 4, 1837. 



Since we returned here, I have run through your fecond volume with much 
pleafure. 2 I had fome mifgivings that the fuccefs of the firft,3 and ftill more 
that your political hobbyifm, might have made you, if not carelefs, at leaft lefs 
elaborate. But I fee no fymptoms of it. On the contrary, you have devoted 
apparently ample inveftigation to all the great topics of intereft. The part you 
have defcanted on lefs copioufly than I had anticipated — perhaps from what 
I had heard you fay yourfelf — was the character and habits of the Aborigines ; 
but I don't know that you have not given as ample fpace to them — confidering, 
after all, they are but incidental to the main fubje6t — as your canvas would 
allow. 4 You certainly have contrived to keep the reader wide awake, which, 
confidering that the fummary nature of the work neceflarily excluded the intereft 
derived from a regular and circumftantial narrative, is a great thing. As you 
have fucceeded fo well in this refpecl:, in the comparatively barren parts of the 
fubjecl:, you cannot fail as you draw nearer our own times. 

I fee you are figuring on the Van Buren Committee for concocting a public 
addrefs. Why do you coquet with fuch a troublefome termagant as politics, 
when the glorious Mufe of Hiftory opens her arms to receive you ? I can't fay 
I comprehend the fafcination of fuch a miftrefs ; for which, I fuppofe, you will 
commiferate me. 

Well, I am juft ready to fly from my perch, in the form of three ponderous 
octavos. Don't you think there will be a great eagernefs to pay feven dollars 
and a half for an auld warld's tale of the fifteenth century, in thefe rub-and-go 
times ? 5 You are more fortunate than I, for all who have bought your flrft, 
will neceflarily buy the fecond volume ; as fubfcribers to a railroad are obliged 
to go on deeper and deeper with the creation of new ftock, in order to make the 
old of any value, as I have found by precious experience. Neverthelefs, I fhall 
take the field in December, Deo volente, all being in readinefs now for ftriking off, 
except the paper. 

With the fincere hope that your family continue in health, and that you may 
be blefled yourfelf with good health and reftored fpirits, I am 

Ever truly yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



* Then jufl publiflied. 
1 Publifhed in 1834. 
4 The fketch of the Indians was re- 
ferved for Mr. Bancroft's third volume, 

46 



and was, in fact, made with a great deal 
of care. 

5 There were heavy financial troubles 
in the winter of 1 837 - 8. 



361 



Chap.xxiv. 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Mr. Bancroft's 
Hiftory. 



Political life. 



362 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence, 
1831-1856. 



A review of 
" Ferdinand 
and Ifabella. 



Thomas Carlyle. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 

Saturday P. M. (indorfed May 5, 1838.) 

Dear Bancroft, 
I return the review with my hearty thanks. 6 I think it is one of the moft 
delightful tributes ever paid by friendfhip to authorfhip. And I think it is 
written in your very happieft manner. I do not believe, in eftimating it fo, I am 
milled by the fubjecl:, or the writer, for I have not been very eafy to pleafe on 
the fcore of puffs, of which I have had full meafure, you know, from my good- 
natured friends. But the ftyle of the piece is gorgeous, without being over- 
loaded, and the tone of fentiment moft original, without the leaft approach to 
extravagance or obfcurity. Indeed, the originality of the thoughts and the topics 
touched on conftitute its great charm, and make the article, even at this 
eleventh hour, when fo much has been faid on the fubjecl:, have all the frefhnefs 
of novelty. In this I confefs, confidering how long it had been kept on the 
fhelf, I am moft agreeably difappointed. As to the length, it is, taken in con- 
nection with the fort of critique, juft the thing. It will terrify none from ven- 
turing on it, and I am fure a man muft be without relifh for the beautiful, who 
can lay it down without finifhing. 

Faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

P. S. There is one thing which I had like to have forgotten, but which 
I fhall not forgive. You have the effrontery to fpeak of my having paffed 
the prime of life, fome dozen years ago. Why, my youthful friend, do you 
know what the prime of life is ? Moliere fhall tell you : " He bien ! qu'eft ce 
que cela, foixante ans ? C'eft la fleur de l'age cela." Prime of life, indeed ! 
People will think the author is turned of feventy. He was a more difcreet critic 
that called me " young and modeft" ! 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 

Thurfday morning, November 1, 1838. 

Dear Bancroft, 
I return you Carlyle with my thanks. I have read as much of him as I 
could ftand. After a very candid defire to relifh him, I muft fay I do not at all. 
I think he has proceeded on a wrong principle altogether. The French Revo- 
lution is a moft lamentable comedy (as Nick Bottom fays) of itfelf, and requires 
nothing but the fimpleft ftatement of facts to freeze one's blood. To attempt 
to color fo highly what nature has already overcolored is, it appears to me, in 



6 The article in the " Democratic Re- dinand and Ifabella. 5 
view," by Mr. Bancroft, on the " Fer- ante, p. no. 



It has been noticed 



Letter to Mr. Sumner. 



363 



Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



very bad tafte, and produces a grotefque and ludicrous effect, the very oppofite Chap. XXIV 

of the fublime or beautiful. Then fuch ridiculous affectations of new-fangled 

words ! Carlyle is even a bungler at his own bufinefs ; for his creations, or 

rather combinations, in this way, are the molt difcordant and awkward pomble. 

As he runs altogether for dramatic, or rather picturefque effecl:, he is not to be 

challenged, I fuppofe, for want of original views. This forms no part of his plan. 

His views certainly, as far as I can eftimate them, are trite enough. And, in 

fhort, the whole thing, in my humble opinion, both as to forme and to fond, is 

perfectly contemptible. Two or three of his articles in the Reviews are written 

in a much better manner, and with elevation of thought, if not with originality. 

But affectation, 

" The trail of the ferpent is over them all." 

Mercy on us, you will fay, what have I done to bring fuch a mower of 
twaddle about my ears ? Indeed, it is a poor return for your kindnefs in lending 
me the work, and will difcourage you in future, no doubt. But to fay truth, I 
have an idle hour ; my books are putting up. 7 

Thierry I will keep longer, with your leave. He fays " he has made friends 
with darknefs." There are we brothers. 

Faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. SUMNER.8 

Bofton, April 18, 1839. 

My dear Sir, 
Our friend Hillard 9 read to me, yefterday, fome extracts from a recent letter 
of yours, in which you fpeak of your interviews with Mr. Ford, 10 who is to 
wield the fcalping-knife over my bantling in the " Quarterly." I cannot refrain 
from thanking you for your very efficient kindnefs towards me in this inftance, 
as well as for the very friendly manner in which you have enabled me to become 
acquainted with the ftate of opinion on the literary merits of my Hiftory in 
London. It is, indeed, a rare piece of good fortune to be thus put in pofTemon 
of the critical judgments of the moft cultivated fociety, who fpeak our native 
language. Such information cannot be gathered from Reviews and Magazines, 
which put on a fort of (how drefs for the public, and which are very often, too, 



7 For moving to town. 

8 Mr. Sumner was then in Europe, and 
Mr. Prefcott was not yet perfonally ac- 
quainted with him. 

9 George S. Hillard, Efq., author of the 
charming book, " Six Months in Italy," 
firft printed in 1853 in Bollon, and fub- 



fequently in London, by Murray, fince 
which it has become a fort of manual for 
travellers who vifit Florence and Rome. 

10 Already noticed for his review in the 
" London Quarterly " of " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," and for his fubfequent perfonal 
friendfhip with Mr. Prefcott. 



364 



Chap.XXIV 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 

Good-will val- 
ued more than 
literary fuc- 
cefs. 



Marquis Gino 
Capponi. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



executed by inferior hands. Through my friend Ticknor, firft, and fub- 
fequently through you, I have had all the light I could defire ; and I can have 
no doubt, that to the good-natured offices of both of you I am indebted for 
thofe prejiiges in my favor, which go a good way towards ultimate fuccefs. 
I may truly fay, that this fuccefs has not been half fo grateful to my feelings as 
the kind fympathy and good-will which the publication has drawn forth from my 
countrymen, both at home and abroad. 

Touching the " Quarterly," I had half a mind, when I learned from 

your letters that it was to take up "Ferdinand and Ifabella," to fend out the laft 
American edition, for the ufe of the reviewer (who, to judge from his papers in 
the " Quarterly," has a quick fcent for blemifhes, and a very good knowledge 
of the Spanifh ground), as it contains more than a hundred corrections of 
inadvertencies and blunders, chiefly verbal, in the firft edition. It would be 
hard, indeed, to be damned for fins repented of; but, on the whole, I could not 
make up my mind to do it, as it looked fomething like a fop to Cerberus ; and 
fo I determined to leave their Catholic HighnefTes to their fate. Thanks to 
your friendly interpofition, I have no doubt, this will be better than they deferve ; 
and, fhould it be otherwife, I fhall feel equally indebted to you. Any one who 
has ever had a hand in concocting an article for a periodical knows quantum 
valet. But the ol ttoXKoL know nothing about it, and of all journals the " Edin- 
burgh " and the " Quarterly " have the moft weight with the American, as with 
the Englifh public. 

You are now, I underftand, on your way to Italy, after a campaign more 
brilliant, I fufpedfc, than was ever achieved by any of your countrymen before. 
You have, indeed, read a page of focial life fuch as few anywhere have accefs 
to ; for your hours have been pafied with the great, not merely with thofe born 
to greatnefs, but thofe who have earned it for themfelves, 



" Colla penna e colla fpada." 

In your progrefs through Italy, it is probable you may meet with a Florentine 
nobleman, the Marquis Capponi. 11 Mr. Ellis, 12 in a letter from Rome, in- 
formed me, that he was difpofed to tranflate " Ferdinand and Ifabella " into the 
Italian ; and at his fuggeftion I had a copy forwarded to him from England, and 
have alfo fent a Yankee one, as more free from inaccuracies. I only fear he 
may think it prefumptuous. He had never feen the book, and I can eafily 
divine fifty reafons why he would not choofe to plague himfelf with the job of 
translating when he has feen it. He is a man of great confideration, and 
probably fully occupied in other ways. But after the intimation which was 
given me, I did not choofe to be deficient on my part ; and I only hope he may 
underftand, that I do not flatter myfelf with the belief that he will do anything 



11 The Marquis Gino Capponi. 
ante, p. 186, note. 



See 1Z Rev. Dr. George E. Ellis, of Charlef- 

town, Mafs. 



Letter to Mr. Everett. 



365 



more than take that fort of intereft in the work which, as one of the leading 
favans in Italy, I fhould wifh him to feel for it. I am fincerely defirous to have 
the work known to Continental fcholars who take an intereft in hiftorical inqui- 
ries. I mail be obliged to you if you will fay this much to him, mould you fall 
in with him. 

I mall be further obliged to you, mould you return to London, if you will, 
before leaving it for the laft time, afcertain from Bentley whether he is making 
arrangements for another edition, and in what ftyle. I mould be forry to have 
the work brought out in an inferior drefs, for the fake of the tocher. Above all, 
he muft get a rich portrait, coute que coute, of my heroine. I have written him 
to this effecl:, and he has promifed it, but " it is a far cry to Loch Awe," and, 
when a man's publifher is three thoufand miles off, he will go his own gait. 
I believe, however, he is difpofed to do very fairly by me. Thus you fee my 
gratitude for the paft anfwers the Frenchman's definition of it, a lively fenfe of 
favors to come. I mail truft, however, without hefitation, to the fame friendly 
fpirit which you have hitherto mown for my excufe in your eyes. 

Adieu, my dear fir. With fincere wifhes that the remainder of your pilgrim- 
age may prove as pleafant and profitable to you as the paft muft have been, I am 
(if you will allow me to fubfcribe myfelf ) 

Very truly your obliged friend and fervant, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. EVERETT.13 



My dear Mr. Everett, 



Bofton, May 21, 1840. 



who is now refiding at Nantes for the 
as Mr. Ellis informs me, is married to a 



I enclofe a note to Mr. Grahame,^ 
benefit of his daughter's health, w 
fon of Sir John Herfchel. 

Touching the kind offices I wifh from you in Paris, it is fimply to afcertain if 
the Archives (the Foreign Archives, I think they are called) under the care of 
Mignet contain documents relating to SpaniiTi hiftory during the reign of Philip 
the Second. A Mr. Turnbull, J 5 who, I fee, is now publifhing his obfervations 
on this country and the Weft Indies, allured me laft year, that the French gov- 
ernment under Bonaparte caufed the papers, or many of them, relating to this 
period, to be transferred from Simancas to the office in Paris. Mr. Turnbull 
has fpent fome time both in Madrid and Paris, and ought to know. If they are 



'3 Mr. Everett was then about embark- 
ing for Europe. 

*4 J. Grahame, Efq., author of the 
Hiftory of the United States. 



»S D. Turnbull, Efq., 
a book on Cuba, &c., in 1 



'ho publifhed 



Chap. XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Archives in 
Paris. 



3 66 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence, 
1831-1856. 



Ledlure on Peru. 



Archives du 
Royaume, 
Paris. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



there, I fhould like to know if I can obtain copies of fuch as I fhould have 
occafion for, and I fhall be obliged by your advifing me how this can beft be 
done. I mall not attempt to make a collection, which will require fimilar 
operations in the principal capitals of Europe, till I have learnt whether I can 
fucceed in getting what is now in Spain, which muft be, after all, the principal 
depot. My fuccefs in the Mexican collection affords a good augury, but I fear 
the difordered condition of the Spanifh archives will make it very difficult. In 
the Mexican affair, the collections had been all made by their own fcholars, and 
I obtained accefs to them through the Academy. For the " Philip the Second " 
I muft deal with the government. There is no hurry, you know, fo that I beg 
you will take your own time and convenience for afcertaining the ftate of 
the cafe. 

I return you the Lecture on Peru, in which you have filled up the outlines of 
your firft. Both have been read by me with much pleafure and profit ; though 
it muft be fome years before I (hall work in thofe mines myfelf, as I muft win 
the capital of Montezuma firft. 

I pray you to offer my wife's and my own beft wifhes to Mrs. Everett, and with 
the fincere hope that you may have nothing but funny ikies and hours during 
your pilgrimage, believe me, my dear Mr. Everett, 

Moft truly and faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



FROM MR. EVERETT. 

Paris, July 27, 1840. 

My dear Sir, 
I have loft no time in inftituting inquiries as to the documents which may be 
acceffible in Paris, on the fubject of Philip the Second. My firft recourfe 
was to M. Mignet. He is the keeper of the Archives in the Department of 
Foreign Affairs. From him I learned that his department contains nothing 
older than the feventeenth century. I learned, however, from him, that 
Napoleon, as Mr. Turnbull informed you, caufed not only a part, but the 
whole, of the archives of Simancas to be transferred to Paris. On the down- 
fall of the Empire, everything was fent back to Spain, excepting the documents 
relating to the Hiftory of France, which, fomehow or other, remained. Thefe 
documents are depofited in the Archives du Royaume, Hotel Soubife. Among 
them is the correfpondence of the fucceffive Minifters of Spain in France with 
their government at Madrid. Thefe papers are often the originals ; they are 
not bound, nor indexed, but tied up in liajfes, and M. Mignet reprefented the 
labor of examining them as very great. He fhowed me fome of the bundles, 
which he had been permitted to borrow from the Archives du Royaume, but I did 
not perceive wherein the peculiar difficulty of examining them confifted. He 
has examined and made extracts from a great mafs of thefe documents for the 



Letter from Mr. Everett. 



o 



67 



Hiftory of the Reformation which he is writing. He mowed me a large num- 
ber of manufcript volumes, containing thefe extracts, which he had caufed to be 
made by four copvifts. He had alfo fimilar collections from BrufTels, Caflel, and 
Drefden, obtained through the agency of the French Minifters at thofe places. 
I have made an arrangement to go to the Archives du Royaume next week, and 
fee thefe documents. I think M. Mignet told me there were nearly three 
hundred bundles, and, if I miftake not, all confifting of the correfpondence of 
the Minifters of Spain in France. 

My next inquiry was at the Bibliotheque Royale. 1 ^ The manufcripts there are 
under the care of an excellent old friend of mine, ProfefTor Hafe, who, in the 
fingle vifit I have as yet made to the library, did everything in his power to fa- 
cilitate my inquiry. In this fuperb collection will, I think, be found materials of 
equal importance to thofe contained in the Archives du Royaume. A very con- 
fiderable part of the correfpondence of the French Minifters at Madrid and 
BrufTels, for the period of your inquiry, is preferved, — perhaps all; and there are 
feveral mifcellaneous pieces of great intereft if I may judge by the titles. 



Chap.XXIV, 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



FROM MR. EVERETT. 



My dear Sir. 



Paris, Auguft 22, 1840. 



Since my former letter to you, I have made fome further refearches, on the fub- 
je& of materials for the Hiftory of Philip the Second. I pafTed a morning at the 
Archives du Royaume, in the ancient Hotel Soubife, inquiring into the fubjecl: of the 
archives of Simancas ; and in an interview with M. Mignet, he was good enough 
to place in my hands a report made to him, by fome one employed by him, to 
examine minutely into the character and amount of thefe precious documents. 
They confift of two hundred and eighty-four bundles, as I informed you in my 
former letter, and fome of thefe bundles contain above a couple of hundred 
pieces. They are tied up and numbered, according to fome fyftem of Spanifh 
arrangement, the key of which (if there ever was any) is loft. They do not 
appear to follow any order, either chronological, alphabetical, or that of fubjects ; 
and an ill-written, but pretty minute catalogue of fome of the firft bundles in 
the feries is the only guide to their contents. M. Mignet's amanuenfis went 
through the whole mafs, and looked at each feparate paper ; and this, I think, is 
the only way in which a perfectly fatisfa&ory knowledge of the contents of the 
collection can be obtained. I had time only to look at two bundles. I took 
them at a venture, being LiaJJes A 55 and A 56 ; felecting them, becaufe I faw 
in the above-named catalogue that they contained papers which fell within the 
period of the reign of Philip the Second. I foon difcovered that thefe documents 

16 Now the Bibliotheque Imperiale. 



Bibliotheque 
Royale. 



MSS. from Si- 
mancas. 



3 68 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 

Letters of Philip 
the Second. 



Interefting char- 
acter of the 
letters. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



were far from being confined to the correfpondence of the Spanifh Minifters in 
France. On the contrary, I believe, not a paper of that defcription was con- 
tained in the bundles I looked at. There were, however, a great number of 
original letters of Philip himfelf to his foreign Minifters. They appeared in 
fome cafes to be original draughts, fometimes corrected in his own handwriting. 
Sometimes they were evidently the official copies, originally made for the pur- 
pofe of being preferved in the archives of the Spanifh government. In one 
cafe, a defpatch, apparently prepared for tranfmiffion, and figned by Ph*ilip, but 
for fome reafon not fent, was preferved with the official copy. In fome cafes 
there were letters in feveral different ftates, from a firft draught, through one or 
two corrected forms, till the letter was reduced to a fatisfa&ory condition. 
This was ftrikingly the cafe with the Latin letter to Elizabeth of England, of 
23d Auguft, 158 1, warmly expostulating againft the reception of Portuguefe fugi- 
tives, and particularly Don Antonio, and threatening war if his wifhes were not 
complied with. Further reflection, perhaps, convinced Philip, that this kind of 
logic was not the beft adapted to perfuade Queen Elizabeth, and a draught of 
another letter, minus the threat, is found in the bundle. Of fome of the letters 
of Philip I could not form a fatisfacl:ory idea whether they were originals or 
copies, and if the latter, in what ftage prepared. Thofe of this clafs had an 
indorfement, purporting that they were " in cipher," in whole or in part. 
Whether they were deciphered copies of originals in cipher, or whether the 
indorfement alluded to was a direction to have them put in cipher, I could not 
tell. It is, in facl:, a point of no great importance, though of fome curiofity in 
the literary hiftory of the materials. 

Befides letters of Philip, there are official documents and reports of almoft 
every defcription ; and I mould think, from what I faw of the contents of the 
collection, that they confift of the official papers emanating from and entering 
the private cabinet of the king, and filed away, the firft in an authentic 
copy, the laft in the original, from day to day. The letters of Philip, though not 
in his handwriting, were evidently written under his dictation ; and I confefs, 
the curfory infpe6tion I was able to give them fomewhat changed my notion of 
his character. I fuppofed he left the mechanical details of government to his 
Minifters, but thefe papers exhibit ample proof that he himfelf read and anfwered 
the letters of his ambafladors. Whether, however, this was the regular official 
correfpondence with the foreign Minifters, or a private correfpondence kept up 
by the King, of which his Secretaries of State were uninformed, I do not know; 
but from indications, which I will not take up your time in detailing, I mould 
think the former. Among the papers is a holograph letter of Francis the Firft 
to the wife of Charles the Fifth, after the treaty of Madrid, by which he recov- 
ered his liberty. They told me, at the Archives, that no obftacles exifted to 
copying thefe documents, and that it would be eafy to find perfons competent to 
examine and tranfcribe them. 



Letter to Mr. Everett. 



TO MR. EVERETT. 

Nahant, September I, 1840. 

My dear Sir, 
I have received your letter of the 27th of July, and it was certainly very 
kind of you to be willing to bury yourfelf in a mufty heap of parchments fo 
foon after your arrival in the moft brilliant and captivating of European capitals. 
I mould have afked it from no one, and mould have been furprifed at it in 
almoft any other perfon. Your memoranda fhow that, as I had anticipated, a 
large ftore of original materials for Philip the Second's reign is in the public 
libraries there ; poffibly enough to authorize me to undertake the hiftory without 
other refources, though ftill I cannot but fuppofe that the Spanifh archives muft 
contain much of paramount importance not exifting elfewhere. I have received 
from Middleton this very week a letter, informing me that he and Dr. Lembke, 
my agent in Madrid, have been promifed the fupport of feveral members of 
government and influential perfons in making the investigations there. By a 
paper, however, which he fends me from the archivero of Simancas, I fear, from 
the multitude and diforderly ftate of the papers, there will be great embarraff- 
ment in accomplishing my purpofe. I wrote fome months fince to Dr. Lembke, 

— who is a German fcholar, very refpe£table, and a member of the Spanifh 
Academy, and who has feleclied my documents for the " Conqueft of Mexico," 

— that, if I could get accefs to the Madrid libraries for the " Philip the Second " 
documents, I mould wifh to complete the collection by the manufcripts from 
Paris, and mould like to have him take charge of it. It fo happens, as I find by 
the letter received from Middleton, that Lembke is now in Paris, and is making 
refearches relating to Philip the Second's reign. This is an odd circumftance. 
Lembke tells him (Middleton) he has found many, and has felected fome to be 
copied, and that he thinks he fhall " be able to obtain Mignet's permiffion to 
have fuch documents as are ufeful to me copied from his great collection." 



TO MR. EVERETT. 



My dear Sir, 



Boflon, February I, 1841. 



I muft thank you for your obliging letter of November 27th, in which you 
gave me fome account of your difafters by the floods, and, worfe, from illnefs of 
your children. I truft the laft is diflipated entirely under the funny ikies of 
Florence. How the very thought of that fair city calls up the paft, and brumes 
away the mifts of a quarter of a century ! For nearly that time has elapfed 
fince I wandered a boy on the banks of the Arno. 

Here all is fleet and " flofh," and in-doors talk of changes, political not mete- 
orological, when the ins are to turn outs. There is fome perplexity about a 
Senator to Congrefs, much increafed by your abfence and J. Q. Adams's pref- 
47 



369 



Chap. XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Archives of Si- 
mancas. 



Florence. 



Politics in the 
United States. 



37o 



Chap.XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Marquis Gino 
Capponi. 



Relazioni Ve- 
neti. 



The Vatican. 

Count Camal- 
doli. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



ence. Abbott Lawrence, who was a prominent candidate, has now withdrawn. 
It feems more fitting, indeed, that he mould reprefent us in the Hou/e than the 
Senate. Both Choate J 7 and Dexter l8 have been applied to, and declined. But 
it is now underftood that Mr. C. will confent to go. The facrifice is great for 
one who gives up the beft practice, perhaps, in the Commonwealth. 

If you remain abroad, I truft, for the credit of the country, it will be in fome 
official ftation, which is fo often given away to unworthy partifans. There is 
no part of our arrangements, probably, which lowers us fo much in foreign efti- 
mation, as the incompetence, in one way or another, of our reprefentatives 
abroad. 

I have received the books from the Marquis Capponi of which he fpoke to 
you, and alfo a very kind letter informing me of the arrangements for the tranf- 
lation of the Catholic Kings into the beautiful tongue of Petrarch and Dante. 
I fee, from the Profpeclius which he fends me, that I am much honored by the 
company of the tranflated. The whole fcheme is a magnificent one, and, if it 
can be carried through, cannot fail to have a great influence on the Italians, by 
introducing them to modes of thinking very different from their own. I fup- 
pofe, however, the cenforfhip ftill holds its fhears. It looks as if the change fo 
long defired in the copyright laws was to be brought about, or the AiTbciates 
could hardly expect indemnification for their great expenfes. Signor Capponi 
is, I believe, a perfon of high accomplifhments, and focial as well as literary 
eminence. In my reply to him, I have exprefTed my fatisfaction that he mould 
have feen you, and taken the liberty to notice the pofition you have occupied in 
your own country ; though it may feem ridiculous, or at leaft fuperfluous, from 
me, as it is probable he knows it from many other fources. 

I am much obliged by your communication reflecting the " Relazioni degli 
Ambafciatori Veneti." It is a moil important work, and I have a copy, fent me 
by Mariotti. The fubfequent volumes (only three are now publifhed) will cover 
the reign of Philip the Second and fupply moft authentic materials for his hiftory, 
and I mull: take care to provide myfelf with them.^ When you vifit Rome, if 
you have any leifure, I fhall be obliged by your afcertaining if there are docu- 
ments in the Vatican germane to this fubjecl:. Philip was fo good a fon of the 
Church, that I think there muft be. Should you vifit Naples, and meet with an 
old gentleman there, Count Camaldoli, pray prefent my fincere refpe&s to him. 
He has done me many kind offices, and is now interelting himfelf in getting 
fome documents from the archives of the Duke of Monte Leone, the repre- 
fentative of Cortes, who lives, or vegetates, in Sicily. 

Lembke is now in Paris, and at work for me. Sparks is alfo there, as you 
know, I fuppofe. He has found out fome rich depofits of manufcripts relating 



*7 The Hon. Rufus Choate. 

18 The Hon. Franklin Dexter, Mr. Pref- 
cott's brother-in-law. 

x 9 The " Relazioni degli Ambafciatori 
Veneti," publifhed by ProfeiTor Eugenio 
Alberi, of Florence, — a fcholar whofe 
learning fits him Angularly for the tafk. 



The firfl volume was publifhed in 1839, 
and I think the fifteenth and laft has re- 
cently appeared. Meantime Signor Al- 
beri has edited, with excellent fkill, the 
works of Galileo, in fixteen volumes, 
1842-1856. He affiiled Mr. Prefcott in 
other ways. 



Letter from Mr. Everett. 



to Philip, in the Britifh Mufeum. The difficulty will be, I fear, in the embarras 
de richejfes. The politics of Spain in that reign were mixed up with thofe of 
every court in Europe. IfabePs were fortunately confined to Italy and the 
Peninfula. 

I pray you to remember us all kindly to your wife, and to believe me, my 
dear Mr. Everett, 

Moft truly your obliged friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



FROM MR. EVERETT. 

Florence, September 21, 1841. 

My dear Sir, 
I duly received your favor of the 30th of April. I delayed anfwering it till 
I mould have executed your commiffions, which, upon the whole, I have done 
to my fatisfacliion. I immediately addreffed a note to the Marquis Gino Cap- 
poni, embodying the fubftance of what you fay on the fubjec~t. of his ofFer to 
furnifh you with copies of his " Venetian Relations." He was then abfent on 
a journey to Munich, which I did not know at the time. He has fince returned, 
but I have not feen him. Since the lofs of his fight, he leads a very fecluded 
life, and is, I think, rarely feen but at M. VieufTeux's Thurfday-evening 
Converfa-ziones ; which, as I have been in the country all fummer, I have not at- 
tended. I infer from not hearing from him, that he thinks the "Relazioni" will 
be publifhed within five years, and that confequently it will not be worth while 
to have them tranfcribed. But I mall endeavor to fee him before my departure. 
The Count Pietro Guicciardini readily placed in my hands the manufcripts 
mentioned by you in yours of the 30th of April, which I have had copied at a 
moderate rate of compenfation. They form two hundred pages of the common- 
fized foolfcap paper, with a broad margin, but otherwife economically written, 
the lines near each other, and the hand quite clofe, though very legible. I 
accidentally fell upon copies of two autograph letters of Philip the Second, — 
the one to the Pope, the other to the Queen of Portugal, — on the fubjecl: of the 
imprifonment of Don Carlos, while I was in fearch of fomething elfe in the 
Magliabecchian. They are not intrinfically very interefting. But, confidering 
the author and the fubjecl:, as they are fhort, each two pages, I had them copied. 
I experienced confiderable difficulty in getting the document in the " Archivio 
Mediceo " copied. For caufes which I could not fatisfa£torily trace, the moft 
wearifome delays were interpofed at every ftep, and I defpaired for fome time of 
fuccefs. The Grand Duke, to whom I applied in perfon, referred the matter, 
with reafon, to the Minifter. The Minilter was defirous of obliging me, but 
felt it neceflary to take the opinion of the Official Superintendent of the de- 
partment, who happens to be the Attorney-General, who is always bufy with 
other matters. He referred it to the Chief Archivift, and he to the Chief 



371 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence, 
1831-1856. 



Marquis Gino 
Capponi. 



Count Pietro 
Guicciardini. 



Autograph let- 
ters of Philip 
the Second. 



Difficulty of ob- 
taining copies. 



372 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 



Don Pafcual de 
Gayangos. 



Robertfon's 
" Charles the 
Fifth." 



Philip the Sec- 
ond. 



Will 



tarn 



Mick ling Prescott. 



Clerk. Fortunately the Archivio is quite near my ufual places of refort ; and, 
by putting them in mind of the matter frequently, I got it, after fix weeks, into 
a form in which the Minifter, Prince Corfini, felt warranted in giving a per- 
emptory order in my favor. 



FROM MR. EVERETT. 



London, April 30, 1842. 

My dear Sir, 

I have to thank you for your letter of the 27th March, which I have juft 
received, and I am afraid that of the 29th December, which you fent me by 
Mr. Gayangos, is alfo ftill to be acknowledged. After playing bo-peep with 
that gentleman all winter, I requefted him to give me the favor of his company 
at breakfaft to-day. I had Mr. Hallam and Lord Mahon, who has been in 
Spain, with other friends, to meet him, and found him an exceedingly pleafant, 
intelligent perfon. I hope to fee more of him during the fummer, which he 
pafTes here. 

Mr. Rich fent me the other day a copy of the third edition of your book, for 
which I am truly obliged to you. I find your Hiftory wherever I go, and there 
is no American topic which is oftener alluded to in all the circles which I fre- 
quent, whether literary or fafhionable. It is a matter of general regret that you 
are underftood to pafs over the reign of Charles the Fifth in your plans for the 
future. Mr. Denifon exprefled himfelf very ftrongly to that effecl: the other 
day, and, though everybody does juftice to the motive as a feeling on your part, 
I muft fay that I have not converfed with a fingle perfon who thinks you ought 
to confider the ground as preoccupied by Robertfon. He was avowedly igno- 
rant of all the German fources, had but partial accefs to the Spanifh authorities, 
and wrote hiftory in a manner which does not fatisfy the requirements of the 
prefent day. 

I am glad you are not difappointed in the manufcripts I procured you at Flor- 
ence. The account of the Tufcan Minifter at Madrid is of courfe to be read 
with fome allowance for the ftrong difpofition he would have to fee everything 
in the moft favorable light, in confequence of his mafter's defire to conciliate 
the favor of Philip the Second. The contents of the Archives of Simancas, 
which M. de Gayangos will get you at Paris, whatever they may do for the 
moral character of Philip, will throw new light on his prodigious capacity for 
bufinefs. The conduct of the affairs of his mighty empire feems to have cen- 
tred in his own perfon 

Pray remember my wife and myfelf moft kindly to your parents and Mrs. 
Prefcott, and believe me ever moft faithfully yours, 

Edward Everett. 



Letter to Mr. Suimier. 



TO MR. SUMNER. 



Pepperell, September n, 1842. 



373 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence, 
1831-1856. 



Many thanks for your kind proportion, my dear Sumner. My wife's veto is 

not the only one to be deprecated in the matter. 20 You forgot the Conquiftador, 

Cortes, a much more inexorable perfonage. He will not grant me a furlough 

i for a fingle day. In truth, ague, company, and the terrible tranfition week 2I — 

! a word of horror — have fo eaten into my time of late, that I muft buckle on 

i harnefs now in good earneft. I don't know anything that would pleafe me 

better than the trip to New York with you, except, indeed, to (hake hands 

once more with Morpeth. But that pleafure I muft forego. I fhall trouble Lord Morpeth. 

you, however, with a note to him, and will fend it to you by the 20th. If 

you mould leave before that, let me know, as I will not fail to write to him. 

He muft be quite aboriginal by this time. 22 Pray get all the particulars of his 

tour out of him. 

Here I am in the midft of green fields and mifty mountains, abfolutely revel- 
ling in the luxury of ruftic folitude and ftudy. Long may it be before I fhall be 
driven back to the fumum ftrepitumque Romte. 7 -! 

Remember me kindly to Lieber and Hillard, and believe me 

Ever faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. SUMNER. 



Pepperell, O&ober 4, 1842. 



I am trulv obliged to you, my dear Sumner, for giving me the carte du pays of 
the laft week fo faithfully. Why, what a week you had of it ! You celebrated 
our noble friend's departure 2 4 in as jolly a ftyle as any Highlander or fon of green 
Erin ever did that of his friend's to the world of fpirits, — a perpetual wake, — 
wake, indeed, for you don't feem to have clofed your eyes night or day. Din- 
ners, breakfafts, fuppers, " each hue," as Byron fays, " ftill lovelier than the 
laft." I am glad he went off under fuch good aufpices, — New York hofpi- 



20 To vifit New York with Mr. Sum- 
ner, in order to take leave of Lord Mor- 
peth, then about to embark for England. 

21 Moving from Pepperell to Bofton, 
always annoying to him. 

22 Lord Morpeth had vifited fome of 
our North American Indians. 

2 * This quotation, comparing Bofton 



with Rome in its days of glory, reminds 
one irrefiftibly of the words of Virgil's 
fhepherd : — 

" Urbem quam dicunt Romam, Meliboee putavi, 
Stultus ego, huic noftrae fimilem. , ' 

*4 Lord Morpeth's embarkation for 
England. 



Lord Morpeth 
in New York 



374 



Chap.XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Death of Mi 
Everett's 
daughter. 



Death of Mr 

Prefcott's 
daughter. 



Confolations. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



tality, and you to fhare it with him. Well, peace to h 



is manes 



I never expect 



to fee another peer or commoner from the vater-land whom I fhall cotton to, as 

Madam B fays, half fo much. 

I am pegging away at the Aztecs, and mould win the mural crown in three 
months, were I to ftay in thefe rural folitudes, where the only break is the 
plague of letter-writing. But Bofton ; the word comprehends more impediments, 
more friends, more enemies, — alas ! how alike, — than one could tell on his 
fingers. Addio ! love to Hillard, and, when you write, to Longfellow, whom 
I hope Lord M. will fee, and believe me 

Very affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. EVERETT. 



My 



DEAR 



Sir, 



Bofton, November 29, 1843. 



It was very kind in you to write to me by the laft fteamer, when you were 
fuffering under the heavy affliction with which Providence has feen fit to vifit 
you. 2 5 I believe there can fcarcely be an affliction greater than that caufed by 
fuch a domeftic lofs as yours ; fo many dear ties broken, fo many fond hopes 
crufhed. There is fomething in the relation of a daughter with a mind fo ripe 
and a foul fo fpotlefs as yours, which is peculiarly touching, and more fo perhaps 
to a father's heart than to any other. There is fomething in a female character 
that awakens a more tender fympathy than we can feel for thofe of our own fex, 
— at leaft, I have fo felt it in this relation. I once was called to endure a fimilar 
misfortune. But the daughter whom I loft was taken away in the dawn of 
life, when only four years old. Do you remember thofe exquifite lines of 
Coleridge, — 

f * Ere fin could blight, or forrow fade, 
Death came with timely care, 
The opening bud to heaven conveyed, 
And bade it bloffom there." 

I think I can never know a forrow greater than I then experienced. 

And yet, if fuch was the blow to me, what muft this be to you, where 
promife has ripened into fo beautiful a reality. You have, indeed, all the con- 
folation that can be afforded by the recollection of fo delightful a character, and of 
a life that feems to have been fpent in preparation for a glorious future. Now 
that me is gone, all who knew her — and there are many here — bear teftimony 
to her remarkable endowments, and the furpaffing lovelinefs of her difpofition. 
If any argument were needed, the exiftence and extindtion here of fuch a being 



2 5 The death of his eldeft daughter, 
excite a jufl pride in her parents. 



Angularly fitted to gratify affection and to 



Letter to Mr. Sumner. 



375 



i8-?i 



! 5 6. 



Mr. Prefcott, 
fenior. 



would of itfelf be enough to eftablifh the immortality of the foul. It would Chap. XXIV. 
feem as reafonable to fuppofe, that the bloffom, with its curious organization and Corre f d 
its tendencies to a fuller development, mould be defigned to perifh in this im- 
mature ftate, as that fuch a foul, with the germ of fuch celeftial excellence 
within it, mould not be deftined for a further and more noble expanfion. It is 
the conviction of this immortality which makes the prefent life dwindle to a 
point, and makes one feel that death, come when it will, feparates us but a fhort 
fpace from the dear friend who has gone before us. Were it not for this con- 
viction of immortality, life, fhort as it is, would be much too long. But I am 
poorly qualified to give confolation to you. Would that I could do it ! 

You will be gratified to know that my father, of whofe illnefs I gave you 
fome account in my laft, has continued to improve, and, as he continues to get 
as much exercife as the weather of the feafon will permit, there is little doubt 
his health will be re-eftablifhed. 

Before this, you will have received a copy of the " Conqueft of Mexico " 
from Rich, I truft. When you have leifure and inclination to look into it, 
I hope it may have fome intereft for you. You fay I need not fear the critical 
brotherhood. I have no great refpecl: for them in the main, but efpecially none 
for the lighter craft, who, I fufpecl:, fhape their courfe much by the trade-winds. 
But the American public defer ftill too much to the leading journals. I fay, too 
much, for any one who has done that fort of work underftands its value. One 
can hardly imagine that one critic can look another foberly in the face. Yet 
their influence makes their award of fome importance, — not on the ultimate 
fate of a work, for I believe that, as none but the author can write himfelf 
up permanently, fo none other can write him down. But for prefent fuccefs 
the opinion of the leading journals is of moment. 

My parents and wife join with me in the expreflion of the warmeft fympathy 
for Mrs. Everett, with which believe me, my dear Mr. Everett, 

Moft faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. SUMNER. 



Reviews. 



My dear Sumner, 



Fitful Head, Auguft 21, 1844. 



I am delighted that you are turning a cold moulder to iEfculapius, Galen, | Mr - Sumner's 
and tuttl quanti. I deteft the whole brotherhood. I have always obferved that 
the longer a man remains in their hands, and the more of their curfed ftufF he 
takes, the worfe plight he is in. They are the bills I moft grudge paying, 
except the bill of mortality, which is very often, indeed, fent in at the fame 
time. 

I have been looking through Beau Brummell. His life was the triumph of 1 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 

Prefent of a 
cane. 



Mr. Prefcott's 
infirmity of 
fight. 



impudence. His complete fuccefs mows that a fond mother mould petition for 
her darling this one beft gift, da, ^Jupiter, impudence ; and that includes all the 
reft, wit, honor, wealth, beauty, &c, or rather is worth them all. An indif- 
ferent commentary on Englifh high life ! 

Did I tell you of a pretty prefent made to me the other day by an entire 
ftranger to me ? It was an almond ftick cut in the woods of the Alhambra at 
Granada, and furmounted by a gold caftellano of the date of Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella, fet in gold on the head of the ftick, which was polifhed into a cane. The 
coin bears the effigies of Ferdinand and Ifabella, with the titles, &c, all fome- 
what rudely ftamped. Is it not a pretty conceit, fuch a prefent ? 

My mother has been quite unwell the laft two days, from a feverifh attack, 
now fubfided ; but we were alarmed about her for a ihort time. But we fhall 
ftill " keep a parent from the fky," I truft. 

Pray take care of yourfelf, and believe me 

Always faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. EVERETT. 

Bofton, May 15, 1845. 

My dear Sir, 

I take the liberty to enclofe a note, which you will oblige me by forwarding 
to Mr. Napier, the editor of the " Edinburgh Review." 26 If anything addi- 
tional is neceflary as to the addrefs, will you have the goodnefs to fet it right ? 

In the laft number of his journal is a paper that you may have read, on the 
" Hiftory of the Conqueft of Mexico," in a foot-note of which the reviewer 
fays that I have been blind fome years. Now I have one eye that does fome 
fervice to me, if not to the Jiate, and I do not half like to be confidered as ftone- 
blind. The next thing I fhall hear of a fubfcription for the poor blind author ! 
So I have written to the Scotch Ariftarch juft to fay that, though I have at 
times been, and was, particularly during the compofition of " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," deprived of all ufe of my eyes, yet they have fo far mended, at leaft 
one of them, — for the other is in Launcelot Gobbo's ftate, or his father's, I 
believe, — that I can do a fair fhare of work with it by daylight, though, it is true, 
I am obliged to ufe a fecretary to decipher my hieroglyphics made by writing 
with a cafe ufed by the blind. I am entitled to fome allowance on this fcore for 
clerical errors, fome of which, occafionally, have been detected juft in time to 
fave me from the horrors of a comic blunder. I have no right, however, nor 
defire, to claim the merit of fuch obftacles vanquifhed, as are implied by total 
blindnefs. He will fet it right, if he thinks it worth the trouble. But very 



26 To correct a miftake in the preceding 
number of the " Edinburgh Review," about 



the degree of his blindnefs. See ante, 
p. 267. 



Letter to Mr. Simmer 



3 



77 



Correfpondence. 
i8ii-i8;6. 



Politics in the 
United States. 



likelv he will think John Bull would not care a fig if I had one eve or a lcore Chap. XXIV 
in mv cranium, and fo let it go. 

I was much pleafed with the article in the Edinburgh. It is written with 
fpirit and elegance, and in a hearty tone of commendation, which I mould be 
glad to merit, and which runs off much more freely, at any rate, than is ufual 
in Britim journals. Could you do me the favor to inform me who was the 
author r 

We are ftill permitted to be reprefented by vou, though, as you perceive, 
more from a very natural diffidence on the part of any one to fucceed you in 
that perilous poft, than from any fault of Mr. Polk. I truft that the excitement 
produced by the vaunt of that eminent perfonage anent the Oregon matter has 
fubfided in England. That it mould have exifted at all was not eafilv compre- 
hended here, where we perfectly underftood that our new chief could not 
diftinguifh betwixt a fpeech from the throne and one on the floor of Congrefs. 
He was only talking to Buncombe. There is a very general feeling here that 
you may be willing to fubfide, after your diplomatic, into a literary career, and 
take the vacant poft in the neighborhood. z 7 But I fuppofe you have heard more 
than enough on that matter. 

I pray you to remember me kindly to Mrs. Everett, and believe me, my 
dear fir, 

Yours with fincere regard, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. SUMNER. 

Pepperell, Auguft 15, 1845. 

My dear Sumner, 

Thank you for vour Difcourfe, which I have read — notes and all — with 
great pleafure and great inftrucrion. 28 You have amaffed a heap of valuable and 
often recondite illuftration in fupport of a noble caufe. And who can refufe 
fvmpathy with the fpirit of philanthropy which has given rife to fuch a charm- 
ing ideal ? — but a little too unqualified. 

"There can be no war that is not difhonorable." I can't go along with this! 
i No ! by all thofe who fell at Marathon ; bv thofe who fought at Morgarten and 
Bannockburn ; by thofe who fought and bled at Bunker's Hill; in the war of: 
the Low Countries againft Philip the Second, — in all thofe wars which have 
had — which are yet to have — freedom for their object, — I can't acquiefce 
in your fweeping denunciation, my good friend. 

I admire your moral courage in delivering vour fentiments fo plainly in the 
face of that thick array of " well-padded and well-buttoned coats of blue, 



Mr. Sumner's 
Oration 

againft War. 



2 7 The Prefidency of Harvard College. thorities of Bofton, July 4th, 1845, main- 

28 " The True Grandeur of Nations," taining the extreme doctrines of the Peace 
an Oration delivered before the city au- Society. 

48 



378 



Chap.XXIV 

Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Mr. Sumner's 
oration before 
the Phi Beta 
Kappa So- 
ciety. 



Mr. Sumner's 
peace doc- 
trines. 



befmeared with gold," which muft have furrounded the roftrum of the orator 
on this day. I may one day fee you on a crufade to perfuade the great Autocrat 
to difband his million of fighting-men, and little Queen Vic to lay up her fteam- 
fhips in lavender ! 

You have fcattered right and left the feeds of a found and ennobling morality, 
which may fpring up in a bountiful harveft, I truft, — in the Millennium, — 
but I doubt. 

I fhall be in town in a few days, when I fhall hope to fee you. Meantime 
remember me kindly to Hillard, and believe me, dear Sumner, 

Moft affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. SUMNER. 

Highlands, Oclober 2, 1846. 

My dear Sumner, 

I thank you heartily for your Phi Beta Kappa Oration, which I received a few 
days fince. I was then up to the elbows in a bloody " battle-piece." ~9 
I thought it better to poftpone the reading of it till I could go to it with clean 
hands, as befits your pure philofophy. 

I have read, or rather liftened to it, notes and all, with the greater!: intereft ; 
and when I fay that my expectations have not been difappointed after having 
heard it cracked up fo, I think you will think it praife enough. The moft happy 
conception has been carried out admirably, as if it were the moft natural order 
of things, without the leaft conftraint or violence. I don't know which of 
your (ketches I like the beft. I am inclined to think the Judge's. For there 
you are on your own heather, and it is the tribute of a favorite pupil to his well- 
beloved mafter, gufhing warm from the heart. Yet they are all managed well, 
and the vivid touches of character and the richnefs of the illuftration will repay 
the ftudy, I fhould imagine, of any one familiar with the particular fcience you 
difcufs. Then your fentiments certainly cannot be charged with inconfiftency. 
Laft year you condemned wars in toto, making no exception even for the wars of 
freedom. 3° This year you condemn the reprefentation of war, whether by the 
pencil or pen. Marathon, Salami's, Bunker Hill, the retreat from Mofcow, 
Waterloo, great and fmall, — fpeaking more forcibly than all the homilies of 
parfon or philanthropift, — are all to be blotted from memory, equally with my 



2 9 An oration entitled " The Scholar, 
the Jurift, the Artift, the Philanthropift," 
delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa So- 
ciety in Harvard College, 1846. It is 
mainly devoted to a delineation of the 
characters of John Pickering, Efq., Judge 



Story, Wafhington Allfton, the artift, and 
the Rev. Dr. Channing. Mr. Prefcott 
alludes here to one phrafe in it, touching 
the artift : " No more battle-pieces." 

3° See the laft preceding letter, dated 
Auguft 15, 1845. 



Letter to Mr. Bancroft. 



379 



own wild fkirmifhes of barbarians and banditti. Lord deliver us ! Where will Chap. XXIV. 



vou bring up ? If the ftories are not to be painted or written, fuch records of 
them as have been heedlefflv made mould bv the fame rule be deftroyed. And 
I don't fee, if you follow out your progrefs to perfection, but what you will 
one day turn out as ftanch an Omar, or iconoclaft, as any other of glorious 
memorv. 

I laugh ; but I fear you will make the judicious grieve. 

I puer, — ut declamatio fias, as fome fatirift may fay. 

But fare thee well, dear Sumner. Whether thou deporteft thyfelf fand mente 
or mente infana, believe me 

Always truly yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 

Bofton, March 5, 1852. 

My dear Bancroft, 

Uncle Ifaac 3 1 fent me yefterdav a copy of your new volume, and you may 
be fure it occupied me clofely during a good part of the day. Of courfe I could 
onlv glance over its contents, reading with a relifh fome of the moft ftriking 
pictures, — at leaft, thofe that would catch the eye moft readily on a rapid furvey. 
I recognize the characferiftic touches of your hand everywhere, bold, brilliant, 
and picturefque, with a good deal of the poetic and much more of philofophy. 
You have a great power of condenfing an amount of ftudy and meditation into 
a compact little fentence, quite enviable. Your introduction, — vour defcription 
of the working of the Reformation in its Calviniftic afpec~t efpecially ; your re- 
marks on the political tendencies of the Old World inftitutions and the New 
World ; your quiet rural pictures of New England and Acadian fcenes and fcen- 
ery ; ftirring battle-pieces, Quebec in the foreground, and Braddock's fall, and 
Wafhington's rife, — told very fimply and effectively ; — I have read thefe with 
care and much intereft. Of courfe one mould not pronounce on a work with- 
out reading it through, and this I mail do more leifurely. But I have no doubt 
the volume will prove a very attractive one, and to the Englifh as well as the 
Yankee reader, though to the Englifhman it opens a tale not the moft flattering 
in the national annals. 

Why did you not mention your refources, fo ample and authentic, in your 
Preface ? Every author has a right to do this, and every reader has a right to 
afk it. Your references do not mow the nature of them iumciently, as I think. 
But I fuppofe vou have your reafons. I am glad you have another volume in 
preparation, and I can only fay, God fpeed ! 

With kind remembrances to your wife, believe me, my dear Bancroft, 

Faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 

s 1 Ifaac P. Davis, Efq., uncle to Mrs. Bancroft. 



Correfpondence 
1831-1856. 



Mr. Bancroft's 
" Hiftory of 
the United 
States." 



Citation of au- 
thorities. 



3 8o 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 



Mr. Bancroft's 
" Hiftory of 
the United 
States." 



Politics in the 
United States. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 



Bofton, December 20, 1852. 



Thank you, dear Bancroft, for the fecond volume of the work immortal. It 
gives me a mingled fenfation of pleafure and pain to receive it ; pleafure to fee 
what you have done, pain at the contrail with what I have done the laft year or 
two. But it will operate as a fpur to my enterprife, I hope. 

I have only glanced over the volume, and liftened carefully to the firft chap- 
ters. It is a volume not to be taken at a leap, or at a fitting, efpeciallv by an 
American. You have given a noble platform for the Revolution by making the 
reader acquainted with the interior of Englifh and Continental politics beyond 
any other work on the fubje£t. I admire the courage as well as the fagacity you 
have mown in vour chapter on the Englifh inftitutions, &c. You have made 
John Bull of the nineteenth century fit for his portrait of the eighteenth, and 
rightly enough, as the iflander changes little but in date. I do not know how 
he will like the free commentaries you have made on his focial and political 
chara&eriftics. But if he is tolerably candid he may be content. But honeft 
Bull, as you intimate, is rather infular in his notions, bounded by the narrow 
feas. There is more depth than breadth in his character. 

Now that your fide has won the game, I wonder if you will be tempted away 
from the hiftoric chair to make another diplomatic epifode.3 2 I fhall be forry, 
on the whole, if you are; for life is fleeting, though art be long, and you are now 
warm in harnefs, running your great race of glory well. I wonder if Mrs. B. 
does not agree with me ? Yet St. James's might offer a fore temptation to any 
one that could get it. 

Thackeray dines — at leaft I have afked him — with me on Thurfday. 
I wifh you could make one of a partie carree with him. 

With much love to your dear lady, believe me, dear Bancroft, 

Affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 

Bofton, January 8, 1856. 

Dear Bancroft, 
It was very kind in you to take the trouble to read my volumes through fo 
carefully, and to give me the refults of your examination. 33 I am not a little 
pleafed that thefe are fo favorable to me. It is no flattery to fay that youi 
opinion, with the allowance of the grain — perhaps a bufhel — of fait on 
the fcore of friendfhip, is of more value to me than almoft any other perfon's 



* 2 The fuccefs of the Democratic party 
in the elections of 1852. 



" The firft two volumes of the 
tory of Philip the Second." 



Hif- 



Letter to Mr. Bancroft. 



in the community; you are fo familiar with the ground of the hiftorian, and 
know from experience fo well what difficulties lie in his path. The verbal 
inaccuracies you have pointed out I mall give heed to, as well as the two blun- 
ders of date and fpelling. With refpecl: to the French difcourfe at the abdi- 
cation, 34 that is right. Flemifh was the language of the people, but French 
was more commonly ufed by the nobility. It was the language of the court, 
and hiftorians expreflly ftate that on this occafion Philip excufed himfelf from 
addreffing the States on the ground of his inability to fpeak French. Cateau- 
Cambrefis is alfo right, being the modern French ufage. It is fo written by 
Sifmondi, by the editor of the " Granvelle Papers," and in the lateft geograph- 
ical gazetteers. 

The book has gone off very well fo far. Indeed, double the quantity, I think, 
has been fold of any of my preceding works in the fame time. I have been 
lucky, too, in getting well on before Macaulay has come thundering along the 
track with his hundred horfe-power. I am glad to hear you fay that his Catholic 
Majefty is found in fo many houfes in New York. I have had fome friendly no- 
tices from that great Babylon. Nothing has pleafed me more than a note which 
I received laft week from Irving (to whom, by the by, I had omitted to fend 
a copy), written in his genial, warm-hearted manner. My publifhers, whofe 
reader had got into rather a hot difcuffion with the " Tribune," I underftand, 
had led me to expect a well-peppered notice from that journal. But on the 
contrary, an able article, from the pen, I believe, of Mr. Ripley, who conduces 
the literary criticifms in its columns, dealt with me in the handfomeft manner 
poflible. Some fault was found, — not fo much as I deferve, — mixed up with 
a good deal of generous approbation ; a fort of criticifm more to my tafte than 
wholefale panegyric. 



I cannot conclude this collection of letters to the three emi- 
nent American ftatefmen, with whom Mr. Prefcott moft freely 
correfponded, better than with the following remarks on his 
converfation by his friend Mr. Parfons. "Never, perhaps," fays 
Mr. Parfons, "did he fuggeft political, or rather party queftions. 
He was himfelf no partifan and no extremift on any fubjecl:. 
He had valued friends in every party, and could appreciate 
excellence of mind or character in thofe who differed from 
him. But in this country, where all are free to be as preju- 
diced and violent as they choofe, — and moft perfons take 
great care that this right mail not be loft for want of ufe, — it 
is feldom that political topics can be difcuffed with warmth, 

M Of Charles the Fifth. 



Chap.XXIV, 

Correfpondence, 
831-1856. 



Succefs of the 
" Hiftory of 
Philip the 
Second." 



38i 



Mr. Parfons on 

Mr. Prefcott's 
converfation. 



382 



Chap.XXIV. 

Correfpondence. 
1831-1856. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



but without paffion, or without the perfonal acerbity, which 
offended not only his good tafte, but his good feelings. Per- 
haps he never fought or originated political converfation ; but 
he would not decline contributing his (hare to it ; and the 
contribution he made was always of good fenfe, of moderation, 
and of forbearance." 




38 




CHAPTER XXV. 

1852 - 1854. 

Death of Mr. Prefcott' s Mother. — Progrefs with "Philip the Second." — 
Correspondence. 

UT while Mr. Prefcott, after his return from 
England, was making fuch fpirited advances with 
his work on " Philip the Second," and taking 
avowed fatisfaction in it, another of the calami- 
ties of life, for which forefight is no prepara- 
tion, came upon him. On Monday, the 17th 
of May, 1852, in the forenoon, a gentleman whom I met in 
the ftreet flopped to tell me that Mrs. Prefcott, the mother of 
my friend, was very ill. I had fetn her only two evenings 
before, when fhe was in her own chamber, (lightly indifpofed, 
indeed, but ftill in her accuftomed fpirits, and feeming to enjoy 




Chap. XXV 

1852. 
JEt. 56. 



8 4 



William Hickling Prescott. 



1852. 

JEt. 56. 

Death of Mrs. 
Prefcott, fen 
ior. 



Chap. XXV. I jjf e as much as me ever had. I was furprifed, therefore, by the 
intelligence, and could hardly believe it. But I haftened to the 
houfe, and found it to be true. She had been ill only a few 
hours, and already the end was obvioufly near. How deeply 
that affliction was felt by her fon I mall not forget ; nor mall 
I forget the converfation I had with him in the afternoon, 
when all was over. His fuffering was great. He wept bit- 
terly, But above every other feeling rofe the fenfe of gratitude 
for what he had owed to his mother's love and energy. 

The imprellion of her lofs remained long on his heart. In 
the fubfequent July, when he went, as ufual, to Nahant, he 
writes : — 



Subfequent feel- 
ing of her 
lofs. 



Refumes work. 



" Philip the 
Second." 



July 4th, 1852. — Nahant, where we came on the firft, — cold, dreary and 
defolate. I mifs the accuftomed faces. All around me how changed, vet not 
the fcene. There all is as it always has been. The fea makes its accuftomed 
mufic on the rocks below. But it founds like a dirge to me. Yet I will not 
wafte my time in idle lament. It will not bring back the dead, — the dead who 
ftill live, and in a happier world than this. 

He did not, in fad:, recover a tolerable meafure of fpirits 
until he reached Pepperell in the autumn. 

" Left Nahant," he fays, " September 6th, and came to the Highlands Sep- 
tember 9th, full of good intent. Delicious folitudes; fafe even from friends — 
for a time ! Now for the Spanifh battle-cry, c St. Jago, and at them!" 

But three months later he writes : — 

December 4th. — St. Jago has not done much for me after all. The gods 
won't help thofe that won't help themfelves. I have dawdled away my fummer, 
and have only to mow for it Chapter XII., thirty-five pages of text and four 
pages of notes. Fie on it ! I am now well read up for Chapter XIII., and — 
I mean to have a confcience and reform. We left Pepperell October 26th. 

In the winter of 1852-3 he made good progrefs again in 
his work; at leaft fuch progrefs as encouraged him, if it was 
not very rapid. By the 15th of May he had written the thir- 
teenth and fourteenth chapters of the Second Book, and the firft 
chapter of Book Third, making about ninety pages in print. 
Odober 3d he had gone on a hundred and fixty pages farther; 



Letters to Lady Lyell. 



and, although he did not account it " railroad fpeed," he 
knew that it was an improvement on what he had done fome 
months before. He was, therefore, better fatisfied with him- 
felf than he had been, and more confident of fuccefs. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, January n, 1853. 



You have no idea of the weather you left behind you here. 1 The thermom- 
meter is at 50 at noon to-day, and the trees on the Common feem quite puzzled 
as to what to do about it. We took our cold, raw weather when you were 
here, at the bottom of Long Wharf, in Copp's Hill burying-ground, and the 
bleak Dorchefter drive, to fay nothing of the afternoon, when the great jet would 
not play for your entertainment. You have not forgotten thefe pleafant ram- 
bles, now that you are fo far away. Thackeray has left us. His campaign was 
a fuccefsful one, and he faid, "It rained dollars." He dined with me thrice, 
and was in good flow of fpirits till a late hour generally. He went much to 
the Ticknors alfo. I do not think he made much impreffion as a critic. But 
the Thackeray vein is rich in what is better than cold criticifm. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, March 1, 1853. 



385 



Chap. XXV. 

1852. 
JEt. 56. 



Warm feafo 



Thackeray. 



At length I have the pleafure to fend vou the little nothings by Colonel Law- 
rence, viz. a miniature pencil-cafe, to be worn round the neck, for ornament 
more than ufe. Item, an ivory flylus, more for ufe than ornament, (the worfe for 
wear, having been pared away, as it required fharpening an inch or more,) with 
which I wrote all the " Conqueft of Mexico." I gave to dear Mrs. Milman 
the ftylus that indited "Peru." Anna Ticknor has the "Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella " one. My wife fays (he will not accept the one with which I am doing 
the Philippics. As that is agate-pointed, I think it will be able to run off as 
long a yarn as I mall care to fpin. 

1 Sir Charles and Lady Lyell had now made a fecond vifit to the United States. 
49 



His ftylufes. 



The Lyells 



386 



Chap. XXV. 

1853. 
JEt. 57. 



Hillard's 
" Italy. 



Pepperel 



William Hickling Prescott. 



TO MRS. MILMAN. 

Pepperell, September 16, 1853. 

My dear Mrs. Milman, 
By the fteamer which failed this week I have done myfelf the pleafure to fend 
you a couple of volumes, called " Six Months in Italy." It is a book lately 
given to the world by a friend of mine, Mr. Hillard, an eminent lawyer in 
Bofton, but one who has found leifure enough to ftore his mind with rich and 
various knowledge, and whofe naturally fine tafte fits him for a work like the 
prefent. The fubjecT: has been worn out, it is true, by book-makers ; but Hillard 
has treated it in an original way, and as his ftyle is full of animation and beauty, 
I think the volumes will be read with pleafure by you and by my good friend 
your hufband. 

Since I laft wrote to you the Lyells have made their Cryftal Palace trip to the 
New World, and patted fome days with me at the feafide ; and, as Lady Lyell 
has perhaps told you, I afterwards accompanied her to New York. It was 
a great pleafure to fee them again, when we thought we had bid them a long, 
if not a laft adieu. But that is a word that ought not to be in our vocabulary. 
They are to pafs next winter, I believe, in the Canaries. They put a girdle 
round the earth in as little time almoft as Puck. 

My travels are from town to feafide, and from feafide to country. And here 
I am now among the old trees of Pepperell, dearer to me than any other fpot 
I call my own. 

The Lyells have been with us here, too, and I believe Lady Lyell likes my 
Pepperell home the beft. It is a plain old farm, recommended by a beautiful 
country, gliftening with pretty ftreams of water, well covered with woods, 
and with a line of hills in the background that afpire to the dignity of moun- 
tains. But what endears it moft to me is that it has been the habitation 
of my anceftors, and my own fome part of every year from childhood. It 
is too fimple a place, however, not to fay rude, to take any but an intimate 
friend to. 

Pray remember me moft kindly to your hufband, and believe me, my dear 
Mrs. Milman, now and always, 

Afre£f.ionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, December 25, 1853. 



A merry Chriftmas to you, dear Lady Lyell, and to Lyell too, and good 
orthodox mince-pies to celebrate it with. I wonder where you are keeping it. 



Letters to Lady Lyell. 



3^7 



j Not where you will find it kept in as genial a way as in Old England. How Chap. XXV, 
much vour countrymen, by the by, are indebted to Wafhington Irving for mow- 
ing the world what a beautiful thing Chriftmas is, or ufed to be, in vour brave 
little ifland. I was reading his account of it this morning, fluffed as full of racv 
old Englifh rhvmes as Chriftmas pudding is of plums. Irving has a foul, which 



1853. 
JEt. 57. 



is more than one can fav for moft writers. It is odd that a book like this, h 
finely and delicatelv executed, mould come from the New World, where one 
expects to meet with hardly anything more than the raw material. 



Wafhington 
Irving. 



I don't know anything that has been ftirring here of late that would have 
intereft for you, or for us either, for that matter. It has been a quiet winter, Mild winter 
quiet in every fenfe, for the old graybeard has not ventured to make his hoary ' 
locks at us vet, or at leaft he has fried none of them on the ground, which 
is as bare as November. This is quite uncommon and very agreeable. But 
winter is not likely to rot in the fky, and we mall foon fee the feathers dancing 
about us. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, February 26, 



I dined with the Ticknors on Friday laft, a mug little party, very pleafant. 
Anna has been in good health this winter, and in very good fpirits. Good kind 
friends they are, and if you want to find it, be a little ill, or out of forts your- 
felf, and you will foon prove it. 

I have been tolerably induftrious for me this winter, and I hope to be in con- 
dition to make a bow to the public by the end of the year You have 

heard that my publifhers, the Harpers, were burnt out laft December. They 
loft about a million; one third perhaps infured. It is faid thev have as much 
I more left. I fhould have made by the fire, as they had about half an edition of 
each of mv books on hand, which they had paid me for. But I could not make j 
money out of their loffes, and I told them to ftrike off as many more copies, 
without charging them. Ticknor did the fame. If all their authors would do 
as much by them, they would be better off bv at leaft a couple of hundred thou- 
fand dollars than their report now fhows. 



The Harpers. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, May 15, 1 8 54. 



I am hard at work now on a very amiable chapter in the " Hiftory of Philip 
the Second," the affair of Don Carlos, for which I fortunately have a good 



Don Carlos. 



3 88 



Chap. XXV. 

1854. 
JEt. 58. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



: Hiftory of Latin 
Chriftianity." 



Thomas a 
Becket. 



body of materials from different quarters, efpecially Spain. A romantic fubjecl:, 
Carlos and Ifabella, is it not ? Thofe who have read Schiller, and Alfieri, and 
Lord John Ruflell, who wrote a long tragedy on the matter, may think fo. But 
truth is a fturdy plant, that bears too few of the beautiful flowers that belong to 
fiction, and the hiftorian, who digs up the dry bones of antiquity, has a lefs 
cheering occupation than the poet, who creates and colors according to his own 
fancy. Some people, however, think hiftory not much better than poetry, 
as far as facl: is concerned. Thofe are moft apt to think fo who are let behind 
the fcenes. 



TO DEAN MILMAN. 

Lynn, July 24, 1854. 

My dear Friend, 

I had the pleafure of receiving a few days fince a copy of your " Hiftory of 
Latin Chriftianity," which you were fo kind as to fend me through Murray, and 
for which I am greatly obliged to you. As- 1 glance over the rich bill of fare 
which the "Contents" hold out, I only regret that I have not the eyes to go into 
it at once in a more thorough manner than can be done with the ear. But a recent 
ftrain of the nerve juft before I left town has fo far difabled me, that for fome 
weeks I have fcarcely ventured to look at the contents of a book. I have, 
however, liftened to fome portions of it, fuiEcient to give me an idea of the 
manner in which the work has been executed. I have been particularly ftruck 
with your admirable account of Becket, and the formidable ftruggle which the 
proud prieft, in the name of religion, carried on with the royalty of England. 
I had thought myfelf pretty well acquainted with the earlier portions of Englifh 
hiftory, but I have nowhere feen the motives and conduct of the parties in that 
remarkable ftruggle fo clearly unveiled. As you come down to later times, the 
fubjecl: may have greater intereft for the general reader ; but yet it can hardly 
exceed in intereft thofe portions of the prefent volumes which difcufs thofe great 
events and inftitutions the influence of which is ftill felt in the prefent condition 
of fociety. 

I am not fufficiently familiar with ecclefiaftical hiftory to make my opinion 
of any value, it is true. Yet there are fome points in the execution of fuch 
a work which may be apprehended by readers not bred in any theological fchool ; 
and I am fure I cannot be miftaken when I exprefs the firm conviction that 
thefe volumes will prove every way worthy of the enviable reputation which 
you now enjoy, both as a fcholar and a friend of humanity. 

I have been bringing my long-protracted labors on the firft two volumes of 
my "Philip the Second" to a clofe. I have made arrangements for their publi- 
cation next fpring in England and the United States, though I may be yet longer 
delayed by the crippled condition of my eyes. 



Letter to Lady LyelL 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Pepperell, September 27, 1854. 

Dear Lady Lyell, 
Here we are in old Pepperell, after a week in which we have been in all the 
hubbub of the tranfition ftate. We have come much later than ufual, for Lynn, 
with its green fields and dark blue waters, and the white fails gliftening upon 
them under a bright September fun, was extremely lovely. Indeed, I think, if 
we were not fo much attached to the old farm, we mould hardly have thought it 
worth while to come here for a month, as we now do, and as we always mail 
do, I fuppofe. In facT:, the topfy-turvy life, and all the buttle of moving from 
feafide to town, and town to country, is fomething like travelling on a great 
fcale, and forms a very good fubftitute for it, juft as that mammoth water-lily, 
the Victoria Regia, which you and I faw at Sion Houfe, and which had always 
depended on a running flream for its exiftence, did juft as well by Paxton's 
clever invention of keeping up a turmoil in a tank. The lily thought fhe was 
all the while in fome buftling river, and expanded as glorioufly as if fhe had 
been. I rather think the tank fort of turmoil is the only one that we mail 
have ; at all events, that my better half will, who I think «will never fee the 
vifion even of New York before fhe dies. We have had a difmal drought all 
over the country, which lafted for more than two months. Luckily, the Sep- 
tember rains have reftored the vegetation, and the country looks everywhere as 
green as in the latter days of fpring. Then there is an inexpreflible charm in 
the repofe, a fort of ftillnefs which you almoft hear, poetice, in the foft murmurs 
and buzzing founds that come up from the fields and mingle with the founds 
made by the winds playing among the trees. It makes quite an agreeable 
variety to the fomewhat oppreflive and eternal roar of the ocean. The wind as 
it fweeps through the foreft makes a mufic that one never wearies of. But I did 
get tired of the monotonous beat of the ocean. I longed for another tune of 
Nature's, and now I have got it. 



Ns^sJ 




389 



Chap. XXV. 

1854. 
JEt. 58. 

Pepperell. 



Charm of the 
country. 



39Q 




Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes. 



CHAPTER XXVI 



Rheumatifm at Nahant. — Bofton Homes fucceffively occupied by Mr. Pref- 
cott in Tremont Street, Summer Street, Bedford Street, and Beacon Street. 
— Patriarchal Mode of Life at Pepper ell. — Life at Nahant and at 
Lynn. 

URING the year 1852-53, Mr. Prefcott was 
much troubled with rheumatifm, more than 
he had been for a long time, and was led feri- 
oufly to confider whether his refidence at Na- 
hant, and his fummer life on the edge of the 
ocean, muft not be given up. He did not like 
the thought, but could not avoid its intrufion. Home was 
always a word of peculiar import to him, and any interference 
with his old habits and aifociations in relation to it was un- 
welcome. 

Moft of thefe aifociations had been fettled for many years, 




Homes in Boston. 



and belonged efpecially to Bofton. From 1808, when he was 
only twelve years old, his proper home, as we have feen, was 
always there, under the fame roof with his father for thirty- 
fix years, and with his mother for forty-four. 

The firft houfe they occupied was on Tremont Street, at the 
head of Bumftead Place, and the next was in Summer Street, 
contiguous to Chauncy Place, both now pulled down to make 
room for the heavy brick and granite blocks demanded by 
commerce. Afterwards they lived, for a few years, at the 
corner of Otis Place, nearly oppofite their laft refidence ; but 
in 1 8 17, Mr. Prefcott the elder purchafed the fine old manfion 
in Bedford Street, where they all lived eight and twenty 
years. In 1845, tne vear following the death of the venerable 
head of the houfehold, the remainder of the family removed to 
No. 55 in Beacon Street, the laft home of the hiftorian and his 
mother's laft home on this fide the grave. 

As long as his father lived, which was until Mr. Prefcott 
himfelf was forty-eight years old, and until all his children had 
been born, there was a patriarchal fimplicity in their way of 
life that was not to be miftaken. The very furniture of the 
goodly old houfe in Bedford Street belonged to an earlier 
period, or, at leaft, though rich and fubftantial, it gave token 
of times gone by. The hofpitality, too, that was fo freely 
exercifed there, and which, to all who were privileged to enjoy 
it, was ib attractive, had nothing of pretention about it, and 
very little of recent fafhion. It was quiet, gentle, and warm- 
hearted. Sometimes, but rarely, large parties were given, and 
always on Thankfgiving-day, our chief domeftic feftival in 
New England, the whole of the family, in all its branches, 
was collected, and the evening fpent, with a few very intimate 
friends, in merry games. Once, I remember, Sir Charles and 
Lady Lyell were added to the party, and fhared heartily in its 
cordial gayety, — romping with the reft of us, as if they had 
been to the manner born. 1 

1 Since this was written, I have fallen dated January 7, 1857, in which fhe fays: 
on a letter of Lady Lyell to Mr. Prefcott, " Shall I ever forget the Thankfgiving in 



39i 



Chap. XXVI. 

Different homes. 



Home in Bofton 



Houfes in Tre- 
mont Street 
and Summer 
Street. 



Houfe in Bed- 
ford Street. 



Hofpitality. 



39 2 



Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes. 

Houfe in Bea- 
con Street. 



Homeftead in 
Pepperell. 



Modes of life 
there in the 
time of his 
grandmother. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



The establishment in Beacon Street, where the hiftorian 
fpent the laft thirteen winters of his life, was more modern 
and elegant. He had fitted it carefully to his peculiar wants 
and infirmities, and then added the comforts and luxuries of 
the time. But the hearty hofpitality which had always been 
enjoyed under the old trees in Bedford Street was not want- 
ing to his new home. He had inherited it from his grand- 
father and his father, and it was, befides, a part of his own 
nature. There was always a welcome, and a welcome fuited to 
each cafe, — to the ftranger who called from curiofity to fee 
one whofe name was familiar in both hemifpheres, and to the 
friend who entered uninvited and unannounced. No houfe 
among us was more fought, none more enjoyed. 

But Mr. Prefcott never fpent the whole of any one year in 
Bofton. In childhood, he was carried every fummer, at leaft 
once, to vifit his grandmother in the family homeftead at Pep- 
perell. His father held fuch vifits to be both a pleafure and 
a duty. The youthful fon enjoyed them as happy feafons of 
holiday relaxation and freedom. Both of them naturally in- 
creafed there a fort of familiar affection and intimacy, which 
in the buftle of the town and amidft the engroffing cares of 
the father's profefiional life could not be Co thoroughly rooted 
and cultivated. 

While the venerable grandmother lived, nothing could be 
more fimple than the ways and manners in that old houfe, 
which was only one of the better fort of New England farm- 
houfes ; fmall for our times, but not fo accounted when it was 
built. Its furniture was comfortable, but already old, and 
dating from a period when grace and tafte in fuch things were 
little confidered. Its fare was country fare, abundant, healthful, 
and keenly enjoyed with appetites earned by wandering about 
the large, fine farm, and breathing the pure mountain air of 
the region. None were gathered there, however, at this period, 

Bedford Street ? Never, as long as I live. blind-man's-buff, and the adjournment to 
It is now more than fifteen years ago, but your ftudy to fee Lord Kingfborough's 
ftill I fee the rooms, the dinner-table, the * Mexico.' " 



Pepperell. 



393 



except the members of the little family, which, though of Chap. XXVI, 
three generations, numbered as yet only fix perfons. Indeed, Different homes, 
there was hardly room for more, and, befides this, the aged 
head of the houfehold could not well enjoy any fociety fave 
that of the perfons neareft to her, for fhe had long been in- 
firm, and was now nearly blind. But it was good for them all 
to be there. The influences of the place were falutary and 
happy. 

After the death of the much-loved grandmother in 1 8 2 1 , Mode s of life in 
at the age of eighty-eight, a good deal of this was naturally his father! 
changed. The eflential characteristics of the quiet home- 
ftead were indeed preferved, and are to this day the fame. 
But the two elder children of Mr. Prefcott were already mar- 
ried, and room was to be found for them and for their families. 
A ftudy was built for the future hiftorian, that he might 
devote himfelf undifturbed to his books, and other additions 
were made for hofpitality's fake. Everything, however, was 
done in the moft unpretending way, and in keeping with the 
fimplicity of the place and its affociations. 

At this period it was that I firft became acquainted with 
Pepperell, and began, with my family, ftill young, to vifit there 
a few days or more every fummer, when it was in our power 
to do fo ; a practice which we continued as long as the elder 
Mr. Prefcott lived, and afterwards until both our houfeholds 
had become fo large that it was not always eafy to accommo- 
date them. But although, in one way or another, the old 
houfe at Pepperell was often full, and fometimes crowded, yet 
fo happy were the guefts, and fo glad were the two or three 
families there to receive their many friends, that no incon- 
venience was felt on either fide. 

Mr. Prefcott the elder was nowhere (o completely himfelf 
as he was at Pepperell ; I mean, that his original character 
came out nowhere elfe fo naturally and fully. He was about 
fixty years old when I firft faw him there, after having long 
known him familiarly in Bofton. He was very dignified, mild, 
and preporTerfing in his general appearance everywhere; a little 
50 



Mr. Prefcott the 
elder at Pep- 
perell. 



394 



Chap.XXVI 

Different homes 



Scenery about 
Pepperell. 



Walks at Pep- 
perell. 



William Hick ling Prescott 



bent, indeed, as he had long been, but with no other mark of 
infirmity, and not many indications of approaching age. But 
in Pepperell, where the cares of profeflional life were entirely 
thrown off, he feemed another man, younger and more vigor- 
ous. His ftep on the foil that gave him birth was more 
elaftic than it was elfewhere, and his fmile, always kind and 
gentle, had there a peculiar fweetnefs. He loved to walk about 
the fields his father had cultivated, and to lounge under the 
trees his father had planted. Moft of his forenoons were fpent 
in the open air, fuperintending the agricultural improvements 
he underftood fo well, and watching the fine cattle with which 
he had flocked his farm, much to the benefit of the country 
about him. 

After dinner, he preferred to fit long at table, and few were 
fo young or io gay that they did not enjoy the mild wifdom of 
his converfation, and the ftirring recollections and traditions 
with which his memory was ftored, and which went back to 
the period when the fpot where we were then fo happy was 
not fafe from the Indian's tomahawk. Later in the afternoon 
we generally took long drives, fometimes long walks, and in 
the evening we read together fome amufing book, commonly 
a novel, and oftener than any others, one of Sir Walter Scott's 
or Mifs Edgeworth's. They were very happy days. 

The walks and drives about Pepperell and its neighborhood 
are pleafant and cheerful, but hardly more. It is a broken 
country, well watered and well cultivated, and the woodlands, 
now fomewhat diminiihed by the encroachments of civilization, 
were, at the time of which I fpeak, abundant and rich, efpe- 
cially on the hills. How much the hiftorian enjoyed this free 
and open nature, we have already had occafion often to notice, 
and mail find that it continued to the laff. Everything at 
Pepperell was familiar and dear to him from the days of his 
childhood. 

There is a charming fhady walk behind the houfe, looking 
towards the Monadnock mountain, and there many a chapter 
of his Hiftories was compofed, or conned over and fitted for the 



Pepperell. 



395 



noctograph. On the other fide of the road is an old grove of Chaf.xxVI 
oaks, which he ufed to call the "Fairy Grove," becaufe under Different homes 
its fpreading (hades he had told his children ftories about fairies, 
who danced there on moonlight nights and brufhed away the 
gathering dews from the grafs. In the " Fairy Grove " he 
walked before dinner, and, as he loved companionship at that 
time of the day, I have walked many a mile with him in the 
path his feet had worn deep in the fod. Farther on is a piece 
of his woodland, to which he had given the name of "Bloody 
Grove," becaufe he had affociated it with a wild tradition of 
the Indian times. There, but more rarely, we walked in the 
rich twilight of our fummer evenings. It was too far off from 
the houfe to be much frequented. 

The drives were no lefs agreeable, and, like the walks, had Drh e " n at Pep " 
their old aflbciations and fancy names, in w T hich we all de- 
lighted. One was Jewett's Bridge, over the Nafhua, between 
Pepperell and Groton, where, when his grandfather had gone to 
fight the battle of Bunker Hill, and had taken all the able-bodied 
1 men with him, the women, dreffed in their hufbands' clothes, 
mounted guard with mufkets and pitchforks, and abfolutely ar- 
retted a man who was in the intereft of the enemy, and took 
from his boots dangerous papers, which they fent to the Com- 
mittee of Safety. 2 Another of the favorite drives was through 
rich meadows and woodlands, which in the declining light of 
the long afternoons were full of gentle beauty, and this he 
called the "Valley-Forge Drive," in memory of one of the 
darkeft and moft honorable periods of Washington's military 
life, although the aifociation was provoked only by the cir- 
cumftance that in one of the hollows which we ufed to pafs 
there was a large blackfmith's-forge. And yet another, the 
longeft drive of all, was to a bright valley, where in a hillfide 
the farmer who lived hard by, miftaking pyrites for lilver ore, 
had gradually wrought a long gallery in the folid rock, chiefly 
with his own hands, fure that he mould find hidden treafure 
at laft, but died without the fight. And this little, quiet valley 

2 See Butler's " Hiftory of Groton," (Boflon, 8vo, 1848,) p. 436. 



39 6 



Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



was always called " Glen Witherfhins," in memory of Edie 
Ochiltree, who was a great favorite in the old homeftead at 
Pepperell. 3 

But wherever the afternoon drives or walks led us, or what- 
ever were the whimfical affociations connected with them, 
they were always cheerful and happy hours that we thus paffed 
together. The woods were often made merry with our fhouts 
and laughter; for the parties after dinner were never fmall, and 
no cares or anxious thoughts oppreffed any of us. We were 
young, or at leaft moft of us were fo, when thefe gay local 
affociations were all fettled, and, as we grew older, we enjoyed 
them the more for the happy memories that refted on them. 
Certainly we never wearied of them. 

After the death of the elder Mr. Prefcott, his fon preferved, 
as far as was poffible, the accuftomed tone and modes of life in 
his old rural home. Three generations could frill be gathered 
there, and the houfe was enlarged and altered, but not much, 
to accommodate their increasing numbers. It was the fon's 
delight, as it had been his father's, not only to have his own 
friends, but the friends of his children, mare his cordial hofpi- 
tality; and, if their number was often large enough to fill all 
the rooms quite as full as they ihould be, it was never fo large 
as to crowd out the trueft enjoyment. 4 



* In the evenings of one of our vifits, 
we read aloud the whole of " The Anti- 
quary," and I well remember, not only 
how it was enjoyed throughout, but how 
particular parts of it were efpecially rel- 
i ftied. Edie's patriotifm, in the laft chap- 
ter but one, where that delightful old 
beggar, with not a penny in the world, 
enumerates the many rich bleffings he 
would fight for, if the French mould in- 
vade Scotland, brought tears into the eyes 
of more than one of the party, including 
the elder Mr. Prefcott. 

4 Sometimes, indeed not unfrequently, 
he fancied that he mould like to live at 
Pepperell eight months in the year, or even 
longer. But the thought of the fnow- 



drifts, and the reftraints and feclufion 
which our rigorous winters imply under 
the circumilances of fuch a refidence, foon 
drove thefe fancies from his mind. Their 
recurrence, however, mows how ftrong 
was his attachment to Pepperell. Of this, 
indeed, there can be no doubt ; but per- 
haps the moft ftriking illuftration of it is 
to be found in the faft, that, in whatever 
teftamentary arrangements he at difFerent 
times made, there was always fpecial and 
tender regard mown to this old farm, 
which his grandfather had refcued from 
the primeval foreft, and which he him- 
felf held, as his father had done, by the 
original Indian title. The fa£t to which 
I refer is, that in fuecefhve wills he en- 






Nahant. 



397 



But, befides his houfes in Bofton and Pepperel], Mr. Prefcott 
lived for many years a few weeks of every fummer on the fea- 
coaft. This habit was adopted originally lefs for his own fake 
than for that of his father, who, on the approach of old age, 
found the air of the ocean important to him during the hot 
feafon. As they had always lived together in town, fo now 
they built their houfe together at Nahant, about fourteen miles 
from Bofton ; a rocky peninfula which juts out fo far into the 
ocean, that even our moft parching fouthweft winds in July 
and Auguft are much cooled by the waves before they reach it. 
The purchafe of land was made in 1828, the year Mr. Prefcott 
the elder retired from the bar; and their cottage of two ftories 



tailed the Pepperell eftate in the ftrifteft 
manner, although he perfectly well knew, 
at the time he did it, that any heir of his 
to whom it might defcend could, by 
the very fimple provifions of oar ftatutes, 
break the entail, and convert the eftate 
into an ordinary inheritance, as unfettered 
by conditions as if he had bought it. 
This, however, made no difference to 
Mr. Prefcott. " It was," as Mr. Gardi- 
ner, who drew the wills in queftion, 
truly fays, — " It was a matter of pure 
fentiment ; for the eftate is of very mod- 
erate value as a piece of falable property, 
not at all worthy, in that view, of unufual 
pains to preferve it for the benefit of re- 
mote defcendants. Nor had Mr. Prefcott, 
in truth, the fmalleft defire to perpetuate 
wealth in connexion with his name to a 
diftant generation. Property in general 
he was content to leave, after the death 
of thofe who were perfonally dear to him, 
and for whom he made fpecial provifions, 
to the common operation of the laws of 
the land, and the accidents of life. Wealth 
he regarded only for its ufes, and valued 
no more than other men. But his little 
Pepperell farm, fimple and unoftentatious 
as it is, he was as fond and as proud of as 
any baron of England is of his old feudal 
caftle, and for very fimilar reafons. Hence 
he had the ftrongeft defire that thefe few 



acres of native foil, which had been long 
in the family, — the home efpecially of 
the old hero of Bunker Hill, the favorite 
refort of that hero's fon, the learned law- 
yer and judge, and afterwards of his grand- 
fon, the hiftorian, — fhould always be held 
undivided by fome one of the fame name, 
blood, and lineage. He well underftood, 
indeed, that he had no power in law to 
prevent the heir in tail from defeating this 
purpofe ; but he hoped and trufted that 
nothing but a laft neceftity would induce 
an inheritor of his blood to part with 
fuch a patrimonial pofTeftion for the little 
money it would produce. At any rate, 
he intended, fo far as was poflible by his 
own aft and will, to fecure its perpetual 
family tranfmiflion ; though he duly efti- 
mated the chances that this, in the courfe 
of human viciffitudes, might not hold out 
for many generations beyond thofe which 
he could himfelf fee. 

" He attached fimilar feelings even to 
the old and valuelefs furniture of his 
grandfires, fome relics of which remained 
in the Pepperell houfe; and, fince he could 
not entail them, like the land, he takes 
care to bequeath all the movables of the 
houfe and farm to the firft tenant in tail, 
who fhould come into pofTeftion of the 
eftate, with a requeft that he would ufe 
means to tranfmit them to his fucceflbrs." 



Chap. XXVI. 

Different homes. 



Cottage at Na- 
hant. 



398 

Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



Doubts about 
Nahant. 



— built without the flighted architectural pretentions, but full 
of refources for comfort, and carefully fitted to its objects and 
pofition — was occupied by them the next fummer. In a hot 
day it is the cooleft fpot of the whole peninfula, and there- 
fore among the cooleft on the whole line of our coaft. There, 
with the exception of the fummer at Pepperell, following his 
father's death, and that of 1850, which he paffed in England, he 
fpent eight or ten weeks of every feafon for five and twenty 
years. 

As he faid in one of his letters, — 

The houfe ftands on a bold cliff overlooking the ocean, — fo near that in a 
ftorm the fpray is thrown over the piazza, — and as it ftands on the extreme 
point of the peninfula, it is many miles out at fea. There is more than one 
printed account of Nahant, which is a remarkable watering-place, from the bold 
formation of the coaft and its expofure to the ocean. It is not a bad place — 
this fea-girt citadel — for reverie and writing, with the mufic of the winds and 
waters inceflantly beating on the rocks and broad beaches below. This place is 
called " Fitful Head," and Noma's was not wilder. 

He had, however, different minds about Nahant at different 
periods, and generally felt more or lefs mifgiving as to its 
benefits each year juft before he was to begin his fummer resi- 
dence there. Sometimes he thought that the ftrong reflection 
from the bright ocean, which often filled the air with a daz- 
zling fplendor, was hurtful to his impaired fight. Almoft always 
he perceived that the cool dampnefs, which was fo refrefhing, 
increafed his rheumatic tendencies. And fometimes he com- 
plained bitterly that his time was frittered away by idlers and 
loungers, who crowded the hotels and cottages of that fafhion- 
able watering-place, and who little thought how he fuffered 
as they fat goffiping with him in his darkened parlor or on 
his fhady piazza. 5 But wherever he might live, as he well 



5 His Memoranda contain much on this 
annoyance of company. In one place he 
fays : " I have loft a clear month here by 
company, — company which brings the 
worft of all fatieties ; for the fatiety from 
ftudy brings the confcioufnefs of improve- 



ment. But this diffipation impairs health, 
fpirits, fcholarfhip. Yet how can I efcape 
it, tied like a bear to a flake here ? I will 
devife fome way another year, or Nahant 
(hall be ' Nae haunt of mine,' as old 
Stewart [the portrait-painter] ufed to fay." 



Nahant. 



399 



And in a letter to me about the fame time, 
Augufl, 1 840, he fays : " We are here in 
a fort of whirligig, — company morning, 
noon, and night, — company to dine twice 
a week, — and, in fhort, all the agreeable 
little interruptions incident to a watering- 
place or a windmill." 

6 But not always. In Augufl, 1841, he 
favs : " Nahant has not ferved me as well 



as ufual this fummer. I have been forely 
plagued with the dyfpeptic debility and 
pains. But I am determined not to heed 
them." Sometimes he feemed out of all 
patience with Nahant. Once he recorded: 
"An acre of grafs and old trees is worth 
a wildernefs of ocean." He wrote this, 
however, at Pepperell, which he always 
loved. 



Rheumatifm at 
Nahant. 



knew, his life would be befet with all its old infirmities, and Chap.XXVI 
as for vilitors, his kindly nature and focial propensities would Different homes 
never permit him to be rigorous with his friends, and ftill lefs 
with the ftrangers who were attracted by his reputation, and 
whofe calls it might feem churlifh to refufe. He therefore 
made the beft he could of his refidence at Nahant, even after 
he had begun to entertain a ferious doubt about its effects. 
This was natural. The fharp tonic air of the ocean un- 
doubtedly invigorated him for his work, and kept down, in 
part at leaft, his troublefome dyfpeplia, 6 while, at the fame 
time, taking his principal exercife on horfeback in the long 
twilight of our fummer evenings, he avoided, to a great degree, 
the injurious effects of the dazzling noonday fplendors of the 
place. But his rheumatifm at laft prevailed. It was clearly 
aggravated by the damp air which penetrated everywhere at 
Nahant, and againft which flannels and friction were a very 
imperfect defence. 

As, therefore, he approached the confines of old age, he 
found that he muft make fome change in his modes of life, 
and arrange, if pollible, fome new compromife with his con- 
flicting infirmities. But he hefitated long. While his father 
lived, who found great folace at Nahant, he never failed to 
accompany him there any more than to Pepperell, and never 
feemed to fhrink from it or to regret it, fo important to him 
was the fociety of that wife and gentle old man, and fo neceffary 
to his daily happinefs. 

But after his father's death, and again after his mother's, the 
place in his eyes changed its character. It became cold, dreary, 
and defolate; it wanted, as he faid, the accuftomed faces. The 



400 



Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes 
Villa at Lynn. 



Cherry-tree at 
Lynn. 



William Hickling Prescott 



laft ftrong link that connected him with it was broken, and he 
determined to live there no more, — "his vifit oft, but never his 
abode." 

Having come to this final decifion, he purchafed, in the 
fpring of 1853, a houfe on the fhore of Lynn Bay, looking 
pleafantly over the waters to his old home at Nahant, and only 
half a dozen miles diftant from it. It was a luxurious eftablifh- 
ment compared with the fimple cottage for which he ex- 
changed it, and was lefs expofed to the annoyance of idle 
Strangers or inconfiderate friends. Its chief attractions, how- 
ever, were its mild fea-breezes, cool and refreshing, but rarely 
or never Sharp and damp, like thofe at Nahant, and its drives, 
which could eafily be extended into the interior, and carried 
into rural lanes and woodlands. He enjoyed it very much, — 
not, indeed, as he did Pepperell, which was always a peculiar 
place to him, — but he enjoyed it more than he did any 
other of his refidences in town or country, fpending ten or 
twelve weeks there every fummer during the laft five years 
of his life, embellishing its grounds, and making its interior 
arrangements comfortable and agreeable to his children and 
grandchildren, whom he gathered around him there, as he 
loved to do everywhere. Still, much was added to his happinefs 
when, two years later, his only daughter, who had been mar- 
ried in 1852 to Mr. James Lawrence, was fettled in a charm- 
ing villa hardly a Stone's throw from his door. After this he 
feemed to need nothing more, for fhe lived ftill nearer to 
him in Bofton, and vifited him at Pepperell every year with 
her children. 

One thing at his Lynn home was and ftill is (1862) very 
touching. There was hardly a tree on the place, except fome 
young plantations, which were partly his own work, and which 
he did not live to fee grow up. But Shade was important to 
him there as it was everywhere; and none was to be found in 
his grounds except under the broad branches of an old cherry- 
tree, which had come down from the days of the Quaker 
Shoemakers who were fo long the monarchs of the lands there 



Lynn. 

and in all the neighborhood. Round the narrow circle of 
(hade which this tree afforded him, he walked with his ac- 
cuftomed fidelity a certain length of time every day, whenever 
the fun prevented him from going more freely abroad. There 
he foon wore a path in the greenfward, and fo deep did it at 
laft become, that now — four years fince any foot has preffed 
it — the marks ftill remain, as a fad memorial of his infirmity. 
I have not unfrequently watched him, as he paced his wea- 
rifome rounds there, carrying a light umbrella in his hand, 
which, when he reached the funny fide of his circle, he raifed 
for an inftant to protect his eye, and then fhut it again that 
the fuffering organ might have the full benefit, not only of 
the exercife, but of' the frefh air ; fo exact and minute was 
he as to whatever could in the flighteft degree affecl: its 
condition. 7 

But in this refpect all his houfes were alike. His fight 
and the care needful to preferve it were everywhere in his 
thoughts, and controlled more or lefs whatever he did or 
undertook. 



7 Since writing thefe fentences, a fon- 
net has been pointed out to me in a cut- 
ting from one of the newfpapers of the 
time, which refers to the circle round the 
old cherry-tree. 

"Nj more, alas ! the foft returning Spring 
Shall greet thee, walking near thy favorite tree, 
Marking with patient ftep the magic ring 
Where pageants grand and monarchs moved with thee, 
Thou new Columbus ! bringing from old Spain 
Her ancient wealth to this awaiting more ; 



Returning, ftamped with imprefs of thy brain, 

Far richer treafures than her galleons bore. 

Two worlds fhall weep for thee, the Old, the New, 

Now that the marble and the canvas wait 

In vain to cheer the homes and hearts fo true 

Thy immortality made defolate, 

While angels on imperifhable fcroll 

Record the wondrous beauty of thy foul." 

It was written, as I have learned fince 
I copied it into this note, by a very cul- 
tivated lady of New York, Mrs. John 
Sherwood. 




51 



4OI 



Chap.XXVI. 

Different homes. 



4-02 



Ch. XXVII. 

1853. 

JEt. 57. 



Firft feafon at 
Lynn. 




CHAPTER XXVII. 

1853-1858. 

Firft Summer at Lynn. — Work on "Philip the Second!' — Memoranda 
about it. — Prints the firft two Volumes. — Their Succejs. — Addition to 
Robertjon s " Charles the Fifth!' — Memoir of Mr. Abbott Lawrence. 
— Goes on with "Philip the Second!' — Illnejs. — Dinner at Mr. 
Gardiner s. — Correfpondence. 

R. PRESCOTT went to Lynn on the 21ft of 
June, 1853. He f° un d it, as he recorded a 
few days afterwards, " a fober, quiet country, 
with the open ocean fpread out before him. 
What," he added, " can be better for ftudy and 
meditation ? I hope to mow the fruits of it, 
and yet, in this tonic air, defy the foul fiend dyfpepfia. At any 
rate, I fhall be lefs plagued with rheumatifm.' , 

His firft feafon in his new villa, however, was not very fruit- 
ful in literary refults, and he was little fatisfied. It was hard 
to get fettled, and interruptions from affairs were frequent. 
But his life there was not without its appropriate enjoyments. 
He had vifits from his friends Sir Charles and Lady Lyell, and 
from the Earl and Countefs of Ellefmere, and he was with 
them all in a gay vifit to New York, where they went for the 
Exhibition of that year, to which Lord Ellefmere and Sir 
Charles Lyell had come as Commiflioners on behalf of the 




Work on "Philip the Second. 



Britifh government. But, though thefe were interruptions, 
they were much more than compenfated for by the pleafure 
they gave, and, after all, he made progrefs enough to infure 
to him that feeling of fuccefs which he always found impor- 
tant for fuftaining his induftry. In fact, by October he was 
fo far advanced with the fecond volume of " Philip the 
Second," that he began to make calculations as to the number 
of pages it might fill, as to the disposition of the remaining 
materials, and as to the time when the whole would be ready 
for the prefs. But his arrangements contemplated fome post- 
ponement of the publication beyond the time he had originally 
propofed for it. When noting this circumftance, he added, 
with characleriftic good-humor, " The public, I fancy, will 
not object to waiting." 

His refults, however, in this cafe differed more than ufual 
from his calculations. The fpace filled by the troubles of 
Philip with the Barbary powers, by the fiege of Malta, and by 
the tragedy of Don Carlos, was more than double what he 
had reckoned for them. The confequence was, that the Mo- 
rifco rebellion and the battle of Lepanto, which had been 
deftined for the fecond volume, were neceffarily poftponed to 
the third. But all thefe fubjecls interefted and excited him. 
From this time, therefore, he worked vigoroufly and well, and 
on the 22d of Auguft, 1854, he finifhed the laft note to the 
laft chapter of the fecond volume. 

On this occafion he made the following memoranda : — 

By next fpring, when I truft thefe volumes will be publifhed, nearly eight 
years will have elapfed fince the publication of the " Conqueft of Peru," which 
was alfo in two volumes, and which was publifhed in lefs than four years after 
the appearance of the " Conqueft of Mexico." The caufe of this difference is 
to be charged even more on the ftate of my eyes than on the difficulty and 
extent of the fubje£f. For a long time after the "Peru" was publifhed I hardly 
ventured to look into a book, and though I have grown bolder as I have 
advanced, my waning vifion has warned me to manage my eye with much 
greater referve than formerly. Indeed, for fome time after I had finifhed the 
"Peru," I hefitated whether I mould grapple with the whole fubjecT: of "Philip" 
in extenfo ; and, when I made up my mind to ferve up the whole barbecue inftead 
of particular parts, I had fo little confidence in the ftrength of my vifion, that 



403 



Ch. xxvil 

1854. 

JEt. 58. 



" Hiftory of 
Philip the 
Second." 



Finifhes the fec- 
ond volume. 



Bad ftate of his 
eyes. 



Doubts about 
" Philip the 
Second." 



404 



Ch. XXVII. 

1854. 

JEt. 58. 

Time given to 
the firft two 
volumes. 

Size of the two 

volumes. 



1855. 

Stereotyped. 



Copyright. 



Succefs of the 
work. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



I thought of calling the work " Memoirs," and treating the fubjecl: in a more 
defultory and fuperficial manner than belongs to a regular hiftory. I did not go 
to work in a bufinefs-like ftyle till I broke ground on the troubles of the Nether- 
lands. Perhaps my critics may find this out. 

My firft chapter was written in July, 1849, at Nahant ; my laft of the fecond 
volume concluded at this date at Lynn, which allows about five years for the 
actual compofition of the work, from which fix months muft be deducted for 
a vifit to England. 

The amount of the two volumes I reckon at about eleven hundred and fifty- 
pages, one hundred and fifty more than a wife economy would have prefcribed \ but 
I hope the reader will be the gainer by it. Nothing remains now but to correcl: 
the earlier portions of the work, efpecially thofe relating to Charles the Fifth, 
in which all my new things have been foreftalled fince I began to write by 
Mignet, Stirling, &c, — a warning to procraftinating hiftorians. This tinkering, 
with a few biographical notices, ought not to take more than two or three 
months, if my eyes ftand by me. But, ®)uien fabe ? The two months I have 
been here I have hardly had two weeks' ufe of the eye ; fo much for a ftupid 
ftrain of the mufcles, rather than the nerve, juft before I left town. 

In November he began to ftereotype the work, at the rate of 
ten pages a day. Each volume held out a little more than his 
eftimate, but the whole was completed in May, 1855, his friend 
Mr. Folfom reviling it all with great care as it went through 
the prefs. It was not, however, immediately publifhed. To 
fuit the exigencies of the time, which, from fevere financial 
embarraffments, were unfavorable to literary enterprife, it did 
not appear, either in England or in the United States, until 
November. 

An adverfe decifion of the Houfe of Lords as to the power 
of a foreigner to claim copyright in England had, however, 
cut him off from his brilliant profpects there ; and in the 
United States he had changed his publifhers, not from any 
diffatisfaclion with them, — for, as he faid, they had dealt well 
with him from firft to laft, — but from circumftances wholly 
of a financial character. 

Six months after the publication of the firft two volumes of 
" Philip the Second," he made the following notice of the 
refult : — 

A fettlement made with my publifhers here laft week enables me to fpeak of 
the fuccefs of the work. In England it has been publifhed in four feparate 



P^iblication of "Philip the Second." 

editions ; one of them from the rival houfe of Routledge. It has been twice 
reprinted in Germany, and a Spanifh tranilation of it is now in courfe of publi- 
cation at Madrid. In this country eight thoufand copies have been fold, while 
the fales of the preceding works have been fo much improved by the impulfe 
received from this, that nearly thirty thoufand volumes of them have been dif- 
pofed of by my Bofton publishers, from whom I have received feventeen thou- 
fand dollars for the "Philip" and the other works the laft fix months. So much 
for the lucre ! 

From the tone of the foreign journals and thofe of my own country, it would 
feem that the work has found quite as much favor as any of its predeceflbrs, and, 
as the fales have been much greater than of any other of them in the fame 
fpace of time, I may be confidered to have as favorable a breeze to carry me 
forward on my long voyage as I could defire. This is very important to me, as 
I felt a little nervous in regard to the reception of the work, after fo long an 
interval fince the preceding one had appeared. 

It is needlefs to add anything to a fimple statement like this. 
The fuccefs of the work was complete, and has continued fo. 
The reviews of it on its firft appearance were left numerous 
than they had been in the cafe of its predeceffors. It was 
a foregone conclufion that the book would be equal to its fub- 
ject; and, befides, the fale both in England and in the United 
States was fo large and fo prompt, that the public decifion was, 
in fact, made quite as foon as the critics could have been heard. 
There was, however, no difference of opinion anywhere on 
the matter; and, if there had been, the favorable judgment of 
M. Guizot, in the "Edinburgh Review" for January, 1857, 
would have outweighed many fuch as are commonly pro- 
nounced by perfons little competent to decide queftions they 
fo gravely claim to adjudicate. 1 

But while the publication of the firft tw T o volumes of the 
" Hiftory of Philip the Second " was going on, Mr. Prefcott 
was occupied with another work on a kindred fubject, and one 
which feemed to grow out of the circumftances of the cafe 
by a fort of natural neceffity. I refer to the latter part of the 



1 On the firft of January, i860, nearly 
13,000 copies of thefe two volumes of 
the " Hiftory of Philip the Second " had 
been fold ; but the number in England 
could not be given with exadlnefs ; although 



a few days later it was known that the 
number muft have been greater than had 
been affumed in making up the above efti- 
mate. 



405 



Ch. XXVII. 

1856. 
JEt. 60. 



Life of Charles 
the Fifth." 



406 



Ch. xxvii. 
1856. 

JEt. 60. 



Declines writing 
the whole life. 



Writes the Life 
of Charles the 
Fifth after his 
abdication. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



reign and life of Philip's illuftrious father. It was plain that 
the accounts of Gachard, drawn from manufcript fources, 
which had been already io well ufed in Englifh by Stirling, 
and in French by Mignet, 2 refpecting the life of Charles the 
Fifth after his abdication, were fo different from the accounts 
given by Robertfon, that his eloquent work could no longer 
ferve as a fumcient link between the times of Ferdinand and 
Ifabella and thofe of their grandfon ; ftill lefs between thofe of 
their grandfon and Philip the Second. It had therefore more 
than once been fuggefted to Mr. Prefcott that he ihould him- 
felf fill up the interval with an entirely new work on the reign 
of Charles the Fifth. 

But this was a tafk he was unwilling to undertake. On the 
one hand, he had no wifh to bring himfelf at all into competi- 
tion with the Scotch hiftorian, who had {o honorably won his 
laurels; and, on the other, the reign of Philip the Second opened 
to him a long vifta of years all filled with labor; befides which 
the times of Charles the Fifth conftituted a wide fubjecl, for 
which he had made no collections, and which he had examined 
only as a portion of Spaniih hiftory intimately connected with 
the portions immediately preceding and following it, to which 
he had already devoted himfelf. Still, he admitted that fome- 
thing ought to be done in order to bring the concluding period 
of Robertfon's Hiftory into harmony with facts now known 
and fettled, and with the reprefentations which mull conftitute 
the opening chapters of his own account of the reign of Philip 
the Second. 

In May, 1855, therefore, he began to prepare a new con- 
clusion to Robertfon's " Charles the Fifth," and in the January 
following had completed it. It embraces that portion of the 
Emperor's life which followed his abdication, and makes about 
a hundred and eighty pages. It was not published until the 

z The Cloifter Life of the Emperor naftere de Yufte, par M. Mignet (Paris, 

Charles V., by William Stirling (Lon- 1854, 8vo )- Gachard, L. P., Retraite 

don, 1852, 8vo). Charles-Ouint, fon Ab- et Mort de Charles-Quint, au Monaftere 

dication, fon Sejour et fa Mort au Mo- de Yufte (Bruxelles, 3 vol. 8vo, 1854, fqq.) 



Memoir of Mr. Lawreitce. 



407 



fucceeding December, the intervening months having been re- 
quired to prepare and print the volumes of Robertfon, to which 
the account of the laft year of the Emperor's life, the one at 
Yufte, was to be the concluflon. 

I was then in Europe, and on the 8th of December, 1856, 
he wrote to me : — 

My " Charles the Fifth," or rather Robertfon's, with my Continuation, made 
his bow to the public to-day, like a {trapping giant with a little urchin holding 
on to the tail of his coat. I can't fay I expect much from it, as the beft and 
biggeft part is fomewhat of the oldeft. But people who like a complete feries 
will need it to fill up the gap betwixt " Ferdinand " and " Philip." 

It had, however, the fame fort of fuccefs with all his other 
works. Six thoufand nine hundred copies were published in 
London and Bofton before the end of eighteen hundred and 
fifty-nine. 

As foon as his continuation of Robertfon was completed, 
he gave a few weeks to the preparation of a Memoir of his 
friend and kinfman, Mr. Abbott Lawrence, who had died in 
the preceding month of Auguft. It is a graceful and becom- 
ing tribute to an eminent man, who deferved well not only of 
MafTachufetts, where he was born and always lived, but of 
the country which he had faithfully ferved in many high ca- 
pacities at home and abroad, and which had wellnigh called 
him to what, in the courfe of events, became the higheft. 3 
The Memoir is fhort, originally prepared for the National 
Portrait Gallery, and fubfequently printed in a beautiful quarto 
form for private diftribution. 

In the beginning of March, 1856, he turned again to his 
" Hiftory of Philip the Second," and went on with it, not 
rapidly, perhaps, but ftill, with the exception of the time when 



* Mr. Lawrence came very near being 
nominated by the Whig party's conven- 
tion as their candidate for Vice-Prefident 
of the United States, inftead of Mr. Fill- 
more, on the fame ticket with General 
Taylor. In that cafe, he would, on the 
death of General Taylor, have become 
Prefident of the United States, as did Mr. 



Fillmore. Mr. Lawrence lacked very 
few votes of this high fuccefs ; and I (hall 
never forget the quiet good-humor with 
which, a few minutes after he knew that 
he had failed of the nomination as Vice- 
Prefident, he came into my houfe, being 
my next-door neighbor, and told me of it. 



Ch. XXVII 

1856. 
JEt. 60. 



Its fuccefs. 



Memoir of Mr. 
Abbott Law- 
rence. . 



Continues to 
work on his 
" Philip the 
Second." 



408 



Ch. XXVII. 

1856. 

JEt. 60. 



Indian fummer. 



Induftry. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



he was partly occupied in correcting for the prefs his addi- 
tion to " Charles the Fifth/' his progrefs was good. He had a 
pleafant fummer at Lynn, during the heats of the feafon, and 
enjoyed his life fo well in the autumn at Pepperell, that he 
again thought he might make his holidays there longer in fuc- 
ceeding years. But he never did. 



"has 
days 



" Our autumn villeggiatura" he fays, under date of October 30th, 1856, 
been charming, as ufual, — the weather remarkably fine, — many of the 
too Indian-fummerijk, however. 4 The vegetation has been remarkably frefh to a 
late period, from the great rains, and then fading, or rather flufhing into a blaze 
of glorious colors, which, as they pafled away, and the fallen leaves ftrewed the 
ground with their fplendors, have been fucceeded by wider reaches of the land- 
fcape and the dark-blue mountains in the diftance. The old trees feem like 
friends of earlier days, ftill fpreading out their venerable arms around me, and 
reminding me of him by whofe hands fo many of them were planted. No fpot 
that I own is fo full of tender reminifcences to me. 

The time has been propitious, as ufual, to mental, and, I truft, moral progrefs. 
I have worked con amore, as I always do in thefe quiet fhades, though not with 
the furore of thofe times when I turned off fometimes fifteen pages in a day. 
But my eyes — my literary legs — grow feebler and feebler, as I near my grand 
climacteric. I hope it will be long, however, before I fhall have to fay, Solve 
fenefcentem. I would rather die in harnefs. Another year, I truft, we may get 
fome way into December before going into town. But I don't know. It takes 
two to make a bargain in my family. 

The winter that followed, 1856-7, was an unhappy one, 



4 This peculiar New England feafon is 
well defcribed in a note to the eighth fer- 
mon of a fmall collection firft printed pri- 
vately in 1 81 2, and afterwards publifhed, 
by the late Rev. James Freeman, one of 
the wife and good men of his time. 

" The fouthweft is the pleafanteft wind 
which blows in New England. In the 
month of October, in particular, after the 
frofts which commonly take place at the 
end of September, it frequently produces 
two or three weeks of fair weather, in 
which the air is perfectly tranfparent, and 
the clouds, which float in a iky of the 
pureft azure, are adorned with brilliant 
colors. If at this feafon a man of an 
afFe&ionate heart and ardent imagination 
fhould vifit the tombs of his friends, 



the fouthweflern breezes, as they breathe 
through the glowing trees, would feem to 
him almofl articulate. Though he might 
not be fo rapt in enthufiafm as to fancy 
that the fpirits of his anceflors were whif- 
pering in his ear, yet he would at leaft 
imagine that he heard the ftill, fmall voice 
of God. This charming feafon is called 
the Indian Summer, a name which is de- 
rived from the natives, who believe that 
it is caufed by a wind which comes imme- 
diately from the court of their great and 
benevolent God, Cautantowwit, or the 
Southweftern God, the God who is fupe- 
rior to all other beings ; who fends them 
every bleifing which they enjoy, and to 
whom the fouls of their fathers go after 
their deceafe." 



Pains in the Head. 



409 



Ch. XXVII. 



*_ Severe head- 
aches. 



and not without painful auguries. I was then in Italy. My 
1 letters informed me that my friend was fuffering from fevere 
headaches. He wrote me, in reply to inquiries on the fubjecl:, j ^t. 61 
that it was true he had fuffered from a new fort of troubles 
but he wrote lightly and pleafantly, as if it were a matter of 
little confequence. The greateft feverity of his pain was from 
December to March. During that period, he was often unable 
to work at all, and from time to time, and generally for fome 
hours every day, his fufFerings were very fevere. 

On my return home in September, 1857, I found his appear- changed appear- 
ance conliderably changed. He was much better, I was allured, 
than he had been during the winter; and the ever-watchful Mrs. 
Prefcott told me that he had been able for feveral months to 
purfue his literary labors nearly every day, though cautiouily 
and fometimes not without anxiety on her part. He was, 
I thought, not a found man, as he was when I had laft feen him, 
fifteen or fixteen months before; for, although he fuffered lefs 
pain in his head than he had for fome time, he was feldom free 
from annoyance there. He, however, regarded the affection, 
in its different forms, as rheumatic, and as connected with all 
the kindred maladies that from his youth had been lurking in 
his fyftem. I would gladly have agreed with him, but, when 
I occafionally obferved that the pain he fuffered flufhed his 
face and neck with a dark mahogany color, I could not drive 
away the apprehenfions that haunted me. 

Still he was almoft always able to occupy himfelf, at leaft c ~ s to 
a part of each day, with his literary labors ; and in the firft 
weeks of the new year he wrote the opening chapters of the 1858. 
Sixth Book of his " Philip the Second," or, if the concluding 
paragraphs of the laft of them were not abfolutely committed ' 
to paper at that time, they were compofed, as was his cuftom, 
in his memory, and were ready to be written down at the firft 
moment of leifure. This was the condition of things at the 
end of January, 1858. 

But, though he did not feel himfelf ftrong and well during 
the latter part of 1857 anc ^ m tne opening days of 1858, ftill 
52 



4io 



Ch. XXVII 

1858. 

Mt. 61. 



Croncying din- 
ners. 



One at Mr. 
Gardiner's. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



he enjoyed life almoft as he had done in its happiefl years. 
He not only worked, and did it well, but he took the fame 
fort of pleafure in fociety that he always had. Dining with 
friends, which had been his favorite mode of focial enjoyment, 
as it had been his father's, was continued, and efpecially dining 
with a few; an indulgence which he could not permit to be 
interfered with. One of the laft of thefe occafions — I fuppofe 
the very laft, before his illnefs in February, 1858, interrupted 
them for feveral months — is fo happily defcribed by his life- 
long friend, Mr. Gardiner, that I take much pleafure in giving 
his account of it entire. He is fpeaking of a fort of dinners 
that Prefcott ufed to call croneyings, which he particularly 
enjoyed, and of which there are occafional, though very rare 
and slight, notices in his Memoranda. 



" I recall the laft of 
It was at my own 



" With what mingled emotions," fays Mr. Gardiner, 
thefe occafions ! I am enabled to fix its date very nearly 

houfe, either on the laft day of January, or one of the earlieft days of February, 
1858. It was a party fo fmall that it hardly deferves the name. Prefcott and 
two of his moft intimate friends, befides myfelf and my family, were all who 
filled a fmall round table. He had fufFered during the paft year from frequent 
and fevere headaches ; a fource of more uneafinefs to his friends than to himfelf, 
for he never attributed thefe headaches to what the event proved them to be. 
He thought them either neuralgic, or a new phafe of his old enemy, rheumatifm ; 
nothing that required extraordinary care. For a few days paft he had been un- 
ufually free from them, and this day he was particularly bright and clear. From 
the beginning he was in one of his moft lively and amufing moods. The ladies 
were induced by it to linger longer at the table than ufual. When they had 
left, the whole company was reduced to only a party of four, but of very old 
friends, each of whom was ftored with many reminifcences of like occafions, 
running far back into younger days. Prefcott overflowed with the full tide of 
mirth belonging to thofe days. It was a gufh of rare enjoyment. After nearly 
five years, the date at which I write, I cannot recall a thing that was faid. 
Probably nothing was faid in itfelf worth recalling, nothing that would bear to 
ftand alone on cold paper. But all that quick-wittednefs, lively repartee, fpark- 
ling humor, exceeding naivete, and droll manner of faying droll things, for which 
he was fo remarkable when he let himfelf out with perfect freedom, were 
brought into full play. And then he laughed, as he only could laugh, at next to 
nothing, when he was in one of thefe moods, and made us inevitably laugh too, 
almoft as the Cambridge Profeflbr did, according to his own ftory. He ftayed, 
too, confiderably beyond his ufual time, the rareft of all things with him. But 
he had come bent on having c a good time,' — it was fo long, he faid, fince he 
had had one, — and laid out for it accordingly. 



Letter to Lady LyelL 



" On comparing notes a few days afterwards with the two friends who were 
prefent, we all agreed that we had not feen c the great hiftorian' for years in fuch 
a ftate of perfect youthful abandonment. 

" It was a fad note of folemn warning which led us to make that comparifon. 
But the picture of him as he was that night, in all his merriment, will never fade 
from the memory — till all fades." 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, November 4, 1854. 



We pafTed a very quiet month in old Pepperell. Sufan was fo fatigued with the 
rather buftling life we led at Lynn, that I propofed we mould live like anchorites, 
bating the bread and water, in the country. So we had only the children and 
little ones. One friend, the ex-Minifter to England, fpent indeed a couple of 
days with us. Groton, the next town, you know, to Pepperell, was his birth- 
place. His father was a lieutenant in my grandfather's regiment on the memo- 
rable day of Bunker Hill, when Britifh tyranny was fo well humbled, you recol- 
lect. The two brave companions in arms were great friends, and, being neigh- 
bors, ofter Tipped their toddy together in the fame room where their defcendants 
took their champagne and fherry, the latter fome of the good — I do not fay the 
beji — fruits of our glorious Revolution. It was rather interesting to think of it, 
was it not ? But poor Lawrence went from us to Groton to pafs a few days, 
and while there had a bad attack of — I don't know what, nor the doctors 
either — great pains in the cheft, preffure on the head, and infenfibility. Yet 
they do not think it apoplectic in its character, but arifing from a disturbance of 
the liver, to which he has been fubjecl:. Any way it is very alarming. It is 
the third attack of the kind he has had in fix weeks, and it makes all his 
friends " guefs and fear " for the future. He is now on a very careful regimen, 
and pays little attention to bufinefs or anything that can excite him. His lofs 
would be a great one to this community, and it certainly would be ineftimable 
to his family. There are few whom I mould be more forry to part with, for 
befides good fenfe and large practical information he has fuch a genial nature, 
with fuch frank and joyous manners as are not often found among us cold- 
blooded Yankees. I would not have you think from all this that he is at the 
point of death. On the contrary, I have juft met him in the ftreet, and look- 
ing very well. But his constitution is fhaken. 

Soon after our return to town your friends, the Governor-General of all the 
Canadas and lady, turned up again, to my great satisfaction, as I wifhed to fee 
them, and have the opportunity of paying them fome attention. I dined with 
them at the Ticknors day before yefterday, and to-day they dine with us. We 
mail have a dozen more friends, the famille Sears, the elder and younger 



411 



Ch. XXVII. 

1854. 
At. 58. 



Mr. Abbott 
Lawrence. 



Sir Edmund and 
Lady Head. 



412 



Ch. XXVII. 



1854. 

^Et. 58 



Lord Carlifle's 
" Travels." 



Lockhart's 
death. 



Cryftallotypes. 



Humboldt. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



branches, the Ticknors fupported by Hillard, and our brave Ex-Confb! Afpin- 
wall. Po you think it will be prim and profy ? I wifh you and your hufband 
were to help us out with it. I like the Heads very much, the little I have feen 
of them ; well-bred, unaffected, and intellectual people, with uncommon good- 
nature for travellers, i. e. John Bull travellers. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, December 24, 1854. 



He fent it to me the other 
full of the noble fentiments 



Have you feen Lord Carlifle's volume of Travels? 
day, and it ftrikes me as a very agreeable record, and 
which belong to him. 

So poor Lockhart has paid the great debt. Was it not a touching thing that 
he mould have died on the fpot endeared to him by fo many tender and joyous 
recollections, and of the fame difeafe which deftroyed Sir Walter too ! I liked 
Lockhart, the little I faw of him ; and a vein of melancholy tinged with the 
farcaftic gave an interefting piquancy to his converfation. I don't know that it 
made his criticifm more agreeable to thofe who were the fubje&s of it. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, December 31, 1854. 



Thank you, dear Lady Lyell, for your kind note and the likenefs 5 which 
accompanied it. It is charming; the noble, expanfive forehead, the little mouth 
that does — not fpeak. Nothing can be more perfect:. It will make a nice 
pendant to Ticknor's, executed in the fame way. This cryftallotype — if that 
is the name it goes by with you as it does with us — is a miraculous invention, 
and one by no means aufpicious to the engraver, or indeed the painter. Apollo, 
in old times, was the patron of the fine arts, and of painting among the reft. 
But in our days he is made to become painter himfelf. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, March 15, 1855. 



I envy you your Continental tour, efpecially your vifit to Berlin. It is a capital 
I fhould like well to fee, if it were only to meet Humboldt, one of the very few 

5 Of Sir Charles Lyell. 



Letter from Lord Carlisle. 



men in the world whom one would take the trouble to walk a mile to fee ; now 
that the Iron Duke is dead, I hardly know another I would go half that diftance 
to have a look at. I have had fome very kind letters from Humboldt, who has 
always taken a friendly intereft in my hiftorical career ; and, as this has lain in 
his path, it has enabled me to appreciate the immenfe fervices he has done to 
fcience and letters by his curious refearches and his beautiful manner of exhib- 
iting the refults of them to the reader. 



413 



FROM LORD CARLISLE. 



Caftle Howard, March 20, 1855. 

Optime et Carissime, 

Nothing ever pleafed me more, except perhaps your own moft kind and 
indulgent verdict, than the opinion you enclofed to me from the erudite and 
weighty authority of Felton. 6 For, befides all his intrinfic titles to refpecl: and 
deference as fcholar, author, and critic, he had himfelf drunk in the infpiration of 
the felf-fame fcenes, and knows how feebly the pale coloring of words can portray 
all the glowing realities of thofe claffic fhores. I will attend to your beheft about 
the book when I get back to London. You will excufe me for guiding myfelf 
by Homeric precedent, fo I fhall prefume to expect a Diomedean exchange of 
armor, and, in return for my light texture, to receive your full mail-clad " Philip 
the Second." 

You will have perceived that we have been fhifting fcenes on our political 
ftage with much rapidity and not a little complexity of plot. I appear myfelf 
before you in a new character. 7 Suppofe you come and fee how I comport my- 
felf in it. I had once an opportunity of mowing you a real fovereign, and I can 
now treat vou to the reprefentation of a mock one. I will not guarantee, how- 
ever, that I may not have to defcend from my throne before you can reach its 
auguft prefence. 

I take up my abode in Ireland about Eafter. I have a comfortable refidence 
there, and a moft agreeable view ; not fo fparkling as that over the iEgean and 
Cyclades, but over bright frefh green and a good outline of hill. I am quite 
ferious in urging you to come. You may fend Sumner too. 

Peace be with you and yours at leaft, if it cannot be with the whole 
world. 

Moft affectionately, 

Carlisle. 

6 Profeflor Felton, afterwards the much- " The Diary in Turkifh and Greek Wa- 
loved Prefident of Harvard College, edited ters," of Lord Carlifle (1855). 
and illuflrated with his pleafant learning 7 As Viceroy of Ireland. 



Ch. XXVII. 

1855. 
^Et. 58. 



Profeflor Felton 



4H 



Ch. XXVII. 

1855. 

JEt. 59. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, April 25, 1855. 



I don't think I do myfelf quite juftice in faying I am a fixture, becaufe I ftick 
to the eafy-chair ; for, after all, the mind is the man, and my mind has carried 
me over many a league fince I faw you laft, and far back, too, into other cen- 
turies. If I mould go to heaven when I quit this dirty ball, I fhall find many 
acquaintances there, and fome of them very refpe£table, of the olden time; many 
whofe letters I have read fince their death, never intended for vulgar eyes to feed 
upon. Don't you think I mould have a kindly greeting from good Ifabella ? 
Even Bloody Mary, I think, will fmile on me ; for I love the old Spanifh flock, 
the houfe of Traftamara. But there is one that I am fure will owe me a grudge, 
and that is the very man I have been making two big volumes upon. With all 
my good-nature I can't warn him even into the darkeft French gray. He is 
black and all black. My friend Madame Calderon will never forgive me. Is it 
not charitable to give Philip a place in heaven ? 

So Lord Carlifle has got the Irifh fceptre. He has written kindly to afk me 
to vifit him this fummer, and fee his vice-regal ftate. I mould like nothing 
better; but I have my four acres of lawn, and ever fo many greener acres of 
fait water to overlook, to fay nothing of generations of defcendants, who will 
be crying out for me like pelicans in the wildernefs, mould I abfcond. An 
edition, by the by, of Carlifle's book is in the prefs here, and will come out 
under Felton's care. He went over the fame ground, at about the fame time 
with Lord C. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



Bofton, June 17, 1855. 



We are very bufy juft now preparing for our feafide flitting. It is a great 
pleafure to us that Elizabeth is to be fo near us. 8 Her new houfe is on a larger 
fcale, and every way a more ambitious affair, than ours. I expecl: to revel in 
babies, for William and his wife and nurfery take up their quarters the firft 
month with us. 9 I fuppofe Anna Ticknor, with whom I dined yefterdav, — 
no one but the family, — has told you of Mr. Lawrence's illnefs. It is the old 
trouble, chiefly of the liver. A fortnight fince, as I walked with him round the 



8 Mrs. James Lawrence, his only daugh- 
ter, removed this feafon to a fummer villa 
in his neighborhood at Lynn. 



9 His eldeft fon, then expected from 
Europe with his family. 



Letter from the Earl of Ellesmere. 

Common, I told him he was lofing ground and mould go to Europe. I went 
in and faw his wife, and it was arranged before I left, that he mould take paffage 
for England the 20th of June. That night he became very ill, and has been ever 
fince in bed. He is now flowly mending, and, if well enough, will embark prob- 
ably early in July ; I mould not think, however, before the middle of it. He 
juft fent me from his fick-bed a fcrap of paper, fimply ftating that " eighty years 
ago, June 17th, his father and my grandfather fought fide by fide on Bunker 
Hill," — a ftirring reminifcence for a fick-bed. 



FROM THE EARL OF ELLESMERE. 

Oxford, September 27, 1855. 

Dear Mr. Prescott, 
Your kind and fad letter has remained long unacknowledged. It reached me 
at a moment when I was leaving London for an excurfion lefs of pleafure than 
of bufinefs, a vifit to the Paris Exhibition ; and from my arrival there to my 
return a few days fince I have been deprived of any ufe of my right hand by my 
ufual enemy. If my right hand had more cunning than it pretends to, it could 
not convey what either Lady Ellefmere or myfelf feels on the fruftration of the 
pleafant hope we had lately entertained of meeting again with the kind and good 
friend, whom I yet hope to meet, though not in this weary world. 10 

It feems but a day, but an hour, fince he left us, 

With no fign to prepare us, no warning to pain, 
As we clung to the hand of which death has bereft us, 

Little thinking we never fhould clafp it again. 

We ought to have thought fo ; — to earth, for a feafon, 
Worth, friendfhip, and goodnefs are lent, but not given ; 

And faith but confirms the conjecture of reafon, 
That the dearefl to earth are the fittefl for heaven. 

I venture to quote the above, not as good, for they are my own, but as 
appofite, be they whose they may. They were written on the lofs of a very 
valued friend and relative, Lord William Bentinck. We need no knell over 
the Atlantic to tell us of the frailty of human ties. I have perfonally been 
fpared as yet, and no name is coupled with the horrors of our late Crimean de- 
fpatches which directly concerns mine or me; but fome have been reaped in this 
bloody harvefr. whom I knew enough to value, and many — a fon among the num- 
ber — are expofed to the further chances of this awful and apparently interminable 
ftruggle. Nothing is on record fince the fiege of Jerufalem, unlefs it be fome 
of the paflages of the retreat from Mofcow, which equals the fickening horrors 

10 Mr. Abbott Lawrence. 



415 



Ch. XXVII. 

1855. 
JEt. 59. 



4i6 



Ch. XXVII. 

1855. 

Mr. 59. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



of the " Times " of to-day; and we in England, though our people did what they 
could, and died in the Redan, have not the blaze of fuccefs to confole us, which 
makes France forget its lofles. I believe our caufe is good. I cannot truly fay 
that in other refpe&s, as a nation, we have deferved other than fevere trial, for we 
entered on this war, in my opinion, with much levity, ignorance, and prefump- 
tion. I think we were right in going to war, and that we could not long have 
avoided it ; but it is one thing to face a great calamity calmly and fternly, from 
a fenfe of right and duty, and another to court the encounter with cheers and 
jeers and vaunting. I writhe under the government of Journalifm. We are 
governed at home, and reprefented abroad, by a prefs which makes us odious to 
the world. 

I am here at Oxford doing rather hard and unpaid fervice on a commiffion 
for fhaping out and regulating the introduction of the changes directed by Par- 
liament in the Univerfity ; — a good deal of dry and heavy detail, but not without 
interefl: and fome profpecl: of ultimate advantage. I lie on my back, and dignities 
drop into my mouth. I am appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Lancafhire, for the 
excellent reafon that there happens to be nobody elfe who comes within the 
ufual category of qualifications of rank, refidence, and political tendencies. It 
makes me a General of feven regiments of militia, an Admiral, and Cuftos 
Rotulorum, and covers me with filver-lace and epaulets ! It does not, thank 
Heaven, in Lancafhire convey, as in other counties, the power of recommending 
perfons to the magiftracy. The fa£t. is, there is ufually nothing to do in the 

office, but at prefent the militia does involve fome bufinefs 

E. Ellesmere. 



FROM MR. HALLAM. 

Pickhurft Broomley, Kent, December 5, 1855. 

My dear Mr. Prescott, 

I muft return you my beft thanks for your very kind prefent of your " Hiftory 
of Philip the Second," which I received in town from Bentley laft week. I only 
repeat the univerfal opinion in praifing the philofophical depth of reflection, the 
juftnefs of the fentiments, and the admirable grace of the ftyle. I have not been 
lately in the way of feeing many people, but I am convinced that there will 
hardly be a difference of opinion upon the fubjecT:. If I regret anything, it is 
that you have fo large a portion of your labor left behind. 

You are quite right in fuppofing that the local interefl: about public events is 
unfavorable to literature. Macaulay's volumes will probably appear within 
a fortnight. He prints, I believe, twenty-five thoufand copies, and they are all 
befpoken. 

With my beft wifhes, believe me, my dear Mr. Prefcott, 

Very truly yours, 

Henry Hallam. 



Letter to Count Circourt. 



TO MRS. MILMAN. 



Bofton, December 24, 1855. 



I had a note from Macaulay the other day, in which he fpoke of having juft 
finifhed his book. I fuppofe ere now it is launched upon the great deep. I am 
glad that he has given me time to get out of the way with my little argofy, 
before taking the wind out of my fails. His readers on this fide of the water 
count by thoufands and tens of thoufands. There is no man who fpeaks to fuch 
an audience as Macaulay. It is certainly a great refponfibilitv. I was forrv to 
learn from him that he was confined to his houfe. When I was in England, he 
feemed to have too robuft a conftitution to be eafily fhaken by difeafe. 

I gather my little circle of children and grandchildren about me to-morrow, 
to keep our merry Chriftmas. There will be a touch of iadnefs in it, however ; 
for more than one feat will be made vacant by the death of poor Mr. Lawrence. 
His death has made a fad gap in our family gatherings. He will long live in the 
hearts of all who knew him. 

Pray remember me, my dear Mrs. Milman, in the kindeft manner, to my good 
friend your hufband, and to your family, and believe me 

Very truly and affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO COUNT ADOLPHE DE CIRCOURT. 

Bofton, April 7, 1856. 

My dear Count Circourt, 
I have read with the greateft pleafure your letter containing your remarks upon 
"Philip the Second." The fubjecl: is a difficult one to treat, and I have naturally 
felt a good deal of folicitude in regard to the judgment of competent critics upon it. 
The opinions, as far as I have gathered them from the criticifms that have ap- 
peared in England and in this country, have certainly been very friendly to me ; 
but I cannot but feel that very few of thofe that criticize the work are particularly 
qualified to judge of it, for the fimple reafon, that they are not acquainted 
with the fubjec~t, or with the hiftoric fources from which the narrative is derived. 
I was particularly gratified, therefore, to get an opinion from you fo favorable on 
the whole to the execution of the tafk. And yet I am aware that, from a friend 
fuch as you are, not merely the granum falls, but a whole bufhel of fait, to take 
our Englifh meafure, muft be allowed. I have alfo had the pleafure of receiving 
this week a letter from Gachard, and no critic can be more qualified certainly in 
what relates to the Netherlands, and I hope you will not think it vanity in me 
when I fay to you that his approval of my labors was conveyed in a tone of 
apparent candor and good faith which gave me fincere pleafure. 

53 



417 



Ch. XXVII. 

1856. 
^Et. 59. 



4i8 

Ch. XXVII. 

1856. 

JE.T. 59. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



What gave me no lefs pleafure than your general commendation was the lift 
of errata which accompanied it ; not that I was happy to find I had made fo 
many blunders, but that I poflefled a friend who had the candor and fagacity to 
point them out. I am filled with aftonifhment when I reflecl: on the variety, 
the minutenefs, and the accuracy of your knowledge. With this fubje£t, thrown 
up by chance before you, you feem to be as familiar as if it had been your 
fpeciallte. I mail not fail to profit by your intelligent criticifm, as my future 
editions in England and my own country will teftify. Allow me to fay, how- 
ever, that your clofing critique on a reading of Balbi, which I give in the notes, 
is not, I think, conformable to the author's meaning. This I gather from the 
context as well as from a more explicit ftatement on the fubjecl: by Calderon, 
another authority quoted by me, from whom the reafons given by me in the text 
are more efpecially derived. When the notice which you have been fo kind as 
to write of the work appears, you will have the kindnefs to fend it to me ; and 
this reminds me that I have not been fo fortunate as to receive an article which 
you promifed fome time fince to fend me on the career of Charles le Temeraire, 
a fubjecl: which has much intereft for me, and which I truft you will not 
forget. 

Do you know that our friends the Ticknors propofe to vifit Europe in the 
fpring, and to pafs a year or more on the Continent. I know you will like to 
take by the hand again this dear old friend, who has a mind as bright, and a heart 
as warm, as in earlier days. I know no one whofe fociety I can fo ill fpare. 

I met your friend Mrs. laft evening, and (he fpoke to me about you and 

Madame de Circourt, whom fhe fpoke of as being in a very poor ftate of health. 
I was aware that fhe had fuffered much from the deplorable accident which lately 
befell her ; but I truft, for your fake and for that of the fociety of which fhe is 
fo diftinguifhed an ornament, that her apprehenfions have exaggerated the amount 
of her illnefs. 

I congratulate you on the termination of this unhappy war, which feemed 
likely to bring nothing but mifery to all the parties engaged in it, though Na- 
poleon may have found his account in the luftre which it has thrown upon 
the French arms ; a poor compenfation, after all, to a reflecting mind, for the 
inevitable evils of war. In the mean time you are bleffed with an imperial baby, 
which, I fuppofe, is equivalent to half a dozen victories, and which will be 
worth more to Napoleon, if it can ferve to perpetuate his dynafty. But who- 
ever has read the paft of France for the laft thirty years will feel no great con- 
fidence in omens for the future. 

We have fome petty fubje&s for quarrelling with John Bull on hand juft now, 
which may eafily be difpofed of, if the governments of the two countries are in 
a tolerably amiable mood. If they are not, I truft there is good fenfe and good 
feeling enough in the two nations to prevent their coming to blows about trifles 
which are not of the flighteft real importance to either party. Unhappily, it 
does fometimes happen that difputes, which are founded on feeling rather than 
reafon, are the moft difficult for reafonable men to fettle. 

With conftant regard, believe me, my dear Count Circourt, 

Very truly your friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



Letter to Sir Charles LyelL 



TO SIR CHARLES LYELL. 

Bofton, November II, 1856. 

I wrote to her [Lady Lyell] in my laft letter, I think, that I was about to 
fend fomething again in the hiftorical way into the world. The greater part, 
however, is not my work, but that of a much bigger man. Robertfon, you 
know, clofes his " Hiftory of Charles the Fifth" with his reign, beftowing only 
two or three pages, and thofe not the moll accurate, on his life after his abdi- 
cation. As his reign comes between that of Ferdinand and Ifabella and the 
reign of that virtuous monarch Philip the Second, (who may be confidered as to 
other Catholics what a Pufeyite is to other Proteftants,) my publifhers thought 
it would be a proper thing — that is a good thing — if I were to furnifh a con- 
tinuation of Robertfon, for which I have the materials, fo as to bring him within 
the regular feries of my hiftorical works. This I have accordingly done to the 
tune of fome hundred and fifty pages, with comparatively little trouble to myfelf, 
having already touched on this theme in " Philip the Second." It was intended 
for the Yankee public in particular ; but Routledge brings it out in London in 
four editions at once ; and a copy of the largeft octavo I have ordered him to 
fend to you. Do not trouble yourfelf to read it, or thank me for it, but put it 
on your fhelves, as a memento of friendfhip, very fincere, for you. 



FROM DEAN MILMAN. 

Deanery St. Paul's, December 1, 1856. 

My dear Friend, 
The date of your laft letter looks reproachfully at me, but I am fure that you 
will afcribe mv long filence to anything rather than want of the moft fincere and 
cordial friendfhip. I received it during our fummer wanderings in Germany, where 
we patted many weeks, — holiday-weeks, — in great enjoyment, and, I rejoice and 
am thankful to be able to fay, in uninterrupted, perhaps improved, health. We 
paid a vifit to our friend Bunfen at Heidelberg, whom we found (I know not 
whether you made his acquaintance in England) in the dignity and happinefs of 
literary quiet and labor, after having fo honorably loft his high diplomatic pofition. 
He has a beautifully fituated houfe, looking oyer the bright Neckar, and up to 
the noble ruins of the Caftle. From thence we took the courfe of the fine 
Bavarian cities, AfchafFenburg, Wurtzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg. At Donau- 
wik we launched on the rapid Danube, and followed its ftream to Vienna and 
to Pefth. To us the Danube is a noble ftream, efpecially after its junction with 
the Inn, amid the magnificent fcenerv about Paflau ; though I know that vou 
Americans give yourfelves great airs, and would think but lightly of the power 



419 



Ch. XXVII. 

1856. 
JEt. 60. 



420 



Ch. xxvti. 
1856. 

JEt. 60. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



and volume of fuch a river. From Vienna to Prague and Drefden. At Dref- 
den we had the great pleafure of falling in with the Ticknors, whom I had fre- 
quently {een during their fhort ftay in London ; and alfo with their moft charming 
relative, our friend Mrs. Twifleton, and her lord. Then to Berlin, and after 
a peep into Holland we found our way home. We, indeed, have been hardly fet- 
tled at home (having paid fome vifits in the autumn) till within two or three weeks. 

Among the parcels which awaited me on my arrival was your graceful and juft 
tribute to the memory of our excellent friend, poor Mr. Lawrence. I mould 
have read it with great intereft for his fake if from another hand, — with how 
much more, when it came from you, executed with your accuftomed fkill and 
your pleafant ftyle, heightened by your regret and affection. 

I have not yet feen your concluding chapters (announced in this week's Athe- 
naeum) to the new edition of Robertfon's " Charles the Fifth." I doubt not 
that you have found much to fay, and much that we ihall be glad to read, after 

Stirling's agreeable book (By the way, at the Goldene Kreuz Hotel at 

Regenfburg [Ratifbon], which was once a fine palace, they fhow the room in 
which John of Auftria was born.) But his life is comparatively of trivial mo- 
ment in the darkening tragedy (for you muft allow it to gather all its darknefs) 
of Philip the Second's later years. Though I would on no account urge you to 
hafte incompatible with the full inveftigation of all the accumulating materials 
of thofe fearful times, yet you muft not allow any one elfe to ftep in before you, 
and ufurp the property which you have fo good a right to claim in that awful 
imperfonation of all that is anti-Chriftian in him who went to his grave with the 
conviction, that he, above all other men, had difcharged the duties of a Chriftian 
monarch. 

I am now, as you may fuppofe, enjoying my repofe with all my full and un- 
exhaufted intereft in literary fubje£ts, in hiftory efpecially, and poetry, (I truft 
that it will laft as long as my life,) but without engaging in any fevere or con- 
tinuous labor. Solve fenefcentem, is one of the wifeft adages of wife antiquity, 
though the aged horfe, if he finds a pleafant meadow, may allow himfelf a light 
and eafy canter. I am taking moft kindly to my early friends, the clailic writers ; 
having read, in the courfe of my later life, fo much bad Greek and Latin, I have 
a right to refrefh myfelf, and very refrefhing it is, with the fine clear writings of 
Greece and Rome 

So far had I written when, behold ! your fecond letter made its appearance, 
announcing your promifed prefent of " Charles the Fifth." I at firft thought 
of throwing what I had written behind the fire, but foon determined rather to 
inflict upon you another fheet, with my beft thanks, and affurances that I fhall 
not leave my neighbor Mr. Routledge long at peace 

And now to clofe, my dear friend, I muft add Mrs. Milman's kind love. She 
begs me to fay that you have read her a leftbn of charity towards Philip the 
Second, which fhe almoft doubts whether your eloquence can fully enforce 
upon her 

H. H. MlLMAN. 



Do come and fee us again, or make me twenty years younger, that I may 
crofs to you. 



Letter to Lady Mary Labouchere. 



TO LADY MARY LABOUCHERE. 



Bofton, February 7, 1857. 



My dear Lady Mary. 



It was with very great pleafure that I received the kind note in your hand- 
writing, which looked like a friend that I had not looked upon for a long time. 
And this was followed foon after by the portrait of your dear mother, forwarded 
to me by Colnaghi from London. It is an excellent likenefs, and recalls the 
fame fweet and benevolent expreffion which has lingered in my memory ever 
fince I parted from her at Caftle Howard. I have wimed that I could think 
that I mould ever fee her again in her princely refidence. But there is little 
chance, I fear, of my meeting her again in this world. Pray, when you next fee 
her, give my moft refpedtful and affectionate remembrances to her. You have 
been fortunate in keeping one parent from the fkies fo long. My own mother 
furvived till fome few years fince, and we were never parted till death came 
between us. This is a bleiling not to be eftimated. And fhe was fo good that 
her removal, at the age of eighty-four, was an event lefs to be mourned on her 
account than on ours who furvived her. 

I was extremely forry to hear of Lord Ellefmere's fevere illnefs. Sir Henry 
Holland gave me fome account of it in a letter fome time fince. From what 
you write and what I have heard elfewhere, I fear that his reftoration to health 
is ftill far from being complete. 

I wifh there were any news here that would intereft you. But I lead a very 
quiet, domeftic fort of life, which, as far as I am concerned, affords little that is 
new. I am at prefent robbed of both my fons, who are pafling this winter in 
Paris, and probably will pafs the next in Italy. The eldeft has his wife and 
children with him, and I carry on a fort of nurfery correfpondence with my little 
granddaughter, who has almoft reached the refpe£t.able age of five. My own 
daughter, Mrs. Lawrence, and her two children, live within a ftone's-throw of 
me, both in Bofton and in the country, where we pafs our fummers. And this 
doubles the happinefs of life. 

It is a pleafant thing for us that our two nations mould have fuch kindly 
feelings as they now feem to have for one another. The little affair of the 
" Refolute " feems to have called them all out. We are brethren who have too 
large an inheritance in common of the paft to forget it all for fome petty quarrel 
about a thing which can be of no real importance to either. 

I am glad to learn that the members of your own family are in fuch good 
health. I fuppofe you fee little of Morpeth, to whom I write occafionally, and 
think myfelf lucky when I get an anfwer, efpecially when it comes through fo 
kind a fecretary as you. I am not likely to forget your features, for the charm- 
ing portrait which you laft fent me ftands in a frame on a ledge of my book- 
cafe in the library, which is our fitting-room. 



42 1 



Ch. XXVII. 

1857. 
JEt. 60. 



Dowager Lady 
Carlifle. 



422 

Ch. XXVII 

1857. 
JEt. 60. 



Agafliz. 



Life of Wafh- 
ington. 



William Hick ling Prescott, 



Pray remember me moft kindly to your fitters and your brother Charles, and 
believe me, dear Lady Mary, with fincere regards to Mr. Labouchere, 
Moft truly and affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL, 



Bofton, April 4, 1857. 



I believe I told you of my headaches, which Jackfon confiders as belonging 
to my rheumatic habits, and bred in the bone. Very bad habits they are. I am 
happy to fay the aches have nearly fubfided, though I have loft two good months 
by them. Agafliz, who dined with me on Wednefday, filled me with envy by 
faying he had worked fifteen hours the day before. What is the man made of? 
The great book on Turtles has been delayed, from his defire to make it more 
complete. He has brought into it difcuflions on a great variety of themes ter- 
reftrial and celeftial. It reminded me, I told him, of the old cofmographical 
myth of the Indians, where the world was faid to reft on an elephant and the 
elephant on the back of a tortoife. For myfelf, I think it would be a great im- 
provement if he would furnifh a chapter on turtle-doves, with their tender 
aflbciations, inftead of the real turtle, whofe beft aflbciations, as far as I know, 
are thofe connected with an alderman or a lord-mayor's feaft. But Agafliz 
thinks he has not half exhaufted the fubjec~t 



FROM MR. IRVING. 

Sunnyfide, Auguft 25, 1857. 

My dear Mr. Prescott, 

You fay " you don't know whether I care about remarks on my books from 
friends, though they be brothers of the craft." I cannot pretend to be above 
the ordinary fenfitivenefs of authorfhip, and am efpecially alive to the remarks of 
a mafter-workman like yourfelf. I have never been lefs confident of myfelf and 
more confcious of my fhort-comings, than on this my laft undertaking, and have 
inceflantly feared that the intereft might flag beneath my pen. You may judge, 
therefore, how much I have been gratified by your aflurance that the intereft felt 
by yourfelf and Mrs. Prefcott on reading the work " went on crefcendo from the 
beginning, and did not reach its climax till the laft pages." 

I thank you, therefore, moft heartily, for your kind and acceptable letter, which 
enables me to cheer myfelf with the perfuafion that I have not ventured into the 
field once too often; and that my laft production has efcaped the fate of the 
Archbiihop of Granada's. 

You hint a wifh that I would vifit your Northern latitudes, and partake of the 
good-fellowfhip that exifts there ; and, indeed, it would give me the greateft 



Letter to Lady LyelL 



pleafure to enjoy communionfhip with a few choice fpirits like yourfelf, but 
I have a growing dread of the vortex of gay fociety into which I am apt to be 
drawn if I ftir from home. In fact, the habits of literarv occupation, which of 
late years I have indulged to excefs, have almoft unfitted me for idle, gentle- 
manly life. Relaxation and repofe begin to be infupportable to me, and I feel 
an unhealthy hankering after my ftudy, and a difpofition to relapfe into hard 
writing. 

Take warning by my cafe, and beware of literarv intemperance. 
Ever, my dear Prefcott, 

Yours very truly, 

Washington Irving. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



November 30, 1857. 



When the times are bad, I fortunately have a fnug retreat on my little farm 
of the fixteenth century, and an hour or two's converfation with my good friend 
Philip generally puts me at peace with the world. I fuppofe you efchew all 
books while you are on the wing. If you ever meet with an Englifh one, and 
can get hold of Thackeray's laft, " The Virginians," publifhing in numbers, 
I believe, in England as well as here, I wifh you would look at it, if only to 
read the firft paragraph, in which he pays a very nice tribute to my old fwords of 
Bunker Hill renown, and to their unworthy proprietor. It was very prettilv 
done of him. I am well booked up now in regard to my Englifh friends, firft 
from the Ticknors, whom I have examined and crofT-examined until I am well 
enough acquainted with their experiences, and now Sumner has arrived and given 
me four or five hours' worth of his in an uninterrupted ftream, and a very pleaf- 
ant raconteur he is, efpecially when he talks of the friends of whom I have fuch 
a loving remembrance on your fide of the water. He feems to have had quite 
a triumphant reception. When a Yankee makes his appearance in London 
circles, the firft queftion afked, I fancy, if they think him worth afking any 
about, is whether he is a pro-flavery man, or an anti-flavery, and deal with him 
accordingly. It would feem droll if, when an Englifhman lights on our foil, the 
firft queftion we fhould afk fhould be whether he was in favor of making the 
Chinefe fwallow opium, or whether he was oppofed to it ; as if that were not 
only the moral, but the focial, ftandard by which everything was to be tefted, and 
we were to cut him or carefs him accordingly. But Sumner was hailed as 
a martyr, and enjoys — quite contrary to ufage — the crown of martyrdom 
during his own lifetime. His ovation has agreed with him, and he goes to 
Wafhington this week 



423 



Ch. XXVII. 

1857. 
JEt. 61. 

Love of labor. 



Thackeray's 
"Virginians. 



Englifh intoler- 
ance. 



424 




Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 61. 



CHAPTER XXVIIL 

1858-1859. 

Firft Attack of Apoplexy. — Yields readily. — Clearness of Mind. — Com- 
posure. — Infirmities. — Gradual Improvement. ■ — Occupations. — Prints 
the third Volume of cc Philip the Second!' — Summer at Lynn and Pep- 
perell. — Notes to the cc Conqueft of Mexico." — Return to Bofton. — 
Defire for atlive Literary Labor. — Ague. — Correfpondence. 

N the 4th of February, 1858, in the afternoon, 
I happened to call on my friend for a little 
vifit or a walk, that being the portion, of the 
day in which, from our refpedtive occupations, 
we ofteneft faw each other. As I entered, the 
air of the fervant who opened the door fur- 
prifed me, and I hardly underftood the words he uttered with 
great emotion, to tell me that Mr. Prefcott was fuddenly and 
ferioufly ill. He had, in fact, been feized in the ftreet a couple 




First Attack of Apoplexy. 



of hours before, and the affection was evidently of the brain, 
and apoplectic. 

The attack occurred juft on his return from his accuftomed 
walk in the early afternoon. Indeed, he reached home with 
fome difficulty, and went, not without much effort, at once, 
and as it were inftinctively and almoft unconfcioufly, to his 
working ftudy. His mind wandered for a few moments, and 
his powers of fpeech and motion were partly fufpended. The 
earlieft articulate words he uttered were to his wife, as ihe was 
tenderly leaning over him : " My poor wife ! I am fo forry for 
you, that this has come upon you fo foon ! " 

The fymptoms were not formidable, and thofe that feemed 
moft threatening yielded to remedies in the courfe of the 
afternoon. His venerable phyfician, Dr. Jackfon, expreffed 
himfelf to me at nine o'clock in the evening with much hope- 
fulnefs, and the next day nearly all anxiety concerning an 
immediate recurrence of the difeafe was gone. But a mark 
had been made on his phyfical conftitution which was never 
to be obliterated. 

For the firft two days he was kept almoft entirely in bed, 
and in a ftate of abfolute reft and quietnefs, with his room 
fomewhat darkened. On the third day I faw him. He talked 
with me as clearly as he ever had when in full health, and 
with intellectual faculties as unclouded. But his utterance 
was nightly affected. His movements were no longer affured. 
A few words and many proper names did not come promptly 
at his fummons. He occafionally feemed to fee figures — espe- 
cially the figure of a gentleman in black — moving about the 
room, though he was quite aware that the whole was an opti- 
cal delufion. If he looked into a book, one line was ftrangely 
mingled with another, and the whole became confufed and 
illegible. All this he explained to me in the fimpleft and 
cleareft manner, as if he were fpeaking, not of his own cafe, 
but of that of another perfon. He was, in fact, not under the 
fmalleft mifapprehenfion as to the nature of his attack, nor as 
to what might be its confequences at a moment's notice. Nei- 
54 



4 2 5 



Ch. XXVIII, 

1858. 

JEt. 61. 

Attack of apo- 
plexy. 



Partial recovery, 



426 



Ch. XXVIII. 



1858. 
JEt. 6i 



Farther im- 
provement. 



Enjoyment of 
reading. 



William Hick lino- Fresco it. 



ther did he at all exaggerate his danger, or feem alarmed or 
anxious at the profpect before him. He faw his condition as 
his phyficians and his family faw it, and as the refult proved 
that it muft have been from the firft. 

In five or fix days he walked out with afliftance ; but he 
was put upon a rigorous, vegetable diet, and his ftrength re- 
turned flowly and imperfectly. After a few weeks the irregu- 
larity in his vifion was corrected ; his tread became fo much 
more firm that he ventured into the ftreets alone ; and his 
enunciation, except to the quick ear of affection, was again 
diftind: and natural. But his utterance never ceafed to be 
marked with a flight effort ; proper names were never again fo 
eafily recalled as they had been ; and, although his appropriate 
gait was recovered, it was at beft a little flower than it had 
been, and, in the laft weeks of his life, when I walked with 
him a good deal, he fometimes moved very heavily, and more 
than once called my attention to this circumftance as to a con- 
fiderable change in his condition. In his genera] appearance, 
however, at leaft to a cafual obferver, in the expreffion of his 
fine manly countenance, and in his whole outward bearing, he 
feemed fuch as he had always been. Thofe, therefore, who 
faw him only as he was met in his accuftomed walks, thought 
him quite recovered. But his family and his more intimate 
friends were too vigilant to be thus deluded. They knew, 
from the firft, that he was no longer the fame. 

Reading was the earlieft pleafure he enjoyed, except that of 
the fociety of his houfehold and of a chofen few out of it. 
But it was only the lighteft books to which he could liften 
fafely, — novels and tales, — and it was only thofe he liked 
beft, fuch as Mifs Edgeworth's Helen and Scott's Guy Man- 
nering, that could fatisfy him enough to enable him to keep 
his attention faftened on them. Even of fuch he foon wearied, 
and turned with more intereft, though not with conviction, to 
parts of Buckle's firft volume on the " Hiftory of Civilization," 
then recently publifhed. 1 

1 When Profeflbr Play fair was fuffering from his laft painful difeafe, his affettionate 



J 



Gradual Recovery. 



A very different and a ftronger intereft, however, he felt in 
liftening, as he did a little later, to the accounts of cafes of 
eminent men of letters refembling his own ; to Adam Fergu- 
fon's, in the Memoirs of Lord Cockburn, which was full of 
encouragement, and to Scott's, in Lockhart's "Life," which, on 
the other hand, could not fail to fadden him, and yet which 
he infilled on following, through all its painful details, to its 
difheartening, tragical cataftrophe. 

This phafis of his difeafe, however, paffed gradually away, 
and then he began to crave afrefh the occupations and modes 
of life to which he had always been accuftomed ; — simple, both, 
as they could be, and laborious, but which had become seriously 
important to him from long habit. His phyfician advifed a 
very moderate and cautious ufe of wine ; a glafs a day at firft, 
and afterwards a little more, fo as to increafe his ftrength, and 
enable him to return, in fome degree at leaft, to the ftudies 
that were fo neceffary to his daily happinefs ; ftill reftricfing 
him, however, to a merely vegetable diet. The prefcriptions 
were rigoroufly obeyed ; and he was able foon to take exercife 
in walking equal to four miles a day, which, if it was mate- 
rially lefs than he had found ufeful and eafy when he was in full 
health, was yet much more than he had of late been able to 
fuftain. It was, therefore, a great point gained, and he thank- 
fully acknowledged it to be fuch. But ftill he marked the 
difference in his general ftrength, and knew its meaning. 

Encouraged, however, by his improvement, fuch as it was, 
and permitted at leaft, if not counselled to it, by his medical 
advifer, he now adventured once more within the domain of 
his old and favorite ftudies. He did not, indeed, undertake to 
prepare anything for the fourth volume of " Philip the Sec- 
ond " ; nor did he even go on to fill out the third to the full 
proportions into which he had originally determined to caft it. 

attendants tried to amufe him with the rifome to him. " Try a little of Newton's 

early novels of Scott, then jufl in the ' Principia,' " faid the dying philofopher ; 

courfe of publication, and other books of and, for a time, his attention was com- 

the fame fort, which, when well, he much manded. 
enjoyed. But now they foon became wea- 



427 



Ch. XXVIII. 



JEt. 61. 



428 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 62. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



But the conclufion of the laft chapter that he ever finifhed, 
a few paragraphs only — which, as was his wont, he had, 
I believe, compofed before his attack and had preferved to a 
good degree in his memory — was now reduced to writ- 
ing, and the manufcript completed fo far as it was deftined 
ever to be. 

In April, 1858, he went to prefs with it, and in the courfe of 
the fummer the ftereotyping was finifTied ; the whole having 
undergone, as it advanced, a careful revifion from his ever-faith- 
ful friend, Mr. Folfom. In this part of the work of publishing, 
he took much pleafure ; more, I believe, than he had before in 
any fimilar cafe. The reafon is fimple. He did not like to 
think that he was, in confequence of his diminifhed Strength, 
obliged to reduce the amount of his intellectual exertions; and, 
while his prefent occupation was light and eafy, he could feel 
that it was indifpenfable, and that it came now in regular 
courfe, inftead of being taken up becaufe he was unequal to 
work that was heavier. He expreffed this to me with much 
fatisfaction at Lynn one day after dinner, when he was near 
the end of his tafk; for, although he felt the fearful uncertainty 
of his condition, he did not like to think that he was in any 
degree yielding to it. His courage, in this refpecl:, was abfolute. 
It never faltered. 

At Pepperell, where he went on the 25th of September, he 
ventured a little further. In 1 844 two tranflations of his 
" Conqueft of Mexico " had appeared in Mexico itfelf, one 
of which was rendered more than commonly important by 
the comments of Don Jofe F. Ramirez at the end of the fecond 
volume, and the other by the notes of Don Lucas Alaman, 
a ftatefman and man of letters of no mean rank, who had 
long occupied himfelf with the hiftory of his country. Mr. 
Prefcott now buried himfelf with thefe materials, as, I think, 
he had done before, and prepared a confiderable number of 
additions and emendations for a future edition of the original 
work. 

"I am now amufing myfelf," he fays, under the date of Sep- 



Last Residence in PepperelL 



tember 30th, " with making fome emendations and additional 
notes for a new edition, fome day or other, of the ' Conqueft 
of Mexico.' Two Mexican tranilations of the work, enriched 
with annotations, furnifh a pretty good ftock of new materials 
for the purpofe." The amount that he accomplished is con- 
siderable, and it will, I hope, be ufed hereafter, as its author 
intended it mould be. 

But though fuch labor was light compared with that needful 
in the profecution of his ftudies for the " Hiftory of Philip the 
Second," if he had ventured to take them up in earneft, ftill 
little that he did during that fummer and autumn was wholly 
free from painful effort. I witneffed it more than once while 
he was at Lynn, where headaches, though treated as of little 
account, yet gave occaiion for grave apprehenfions, — not the 
lefs grave, becaufe their expreffion, which could have done only 
harm, was carefully forborne by thofe about him. 

His occupations at Pepperell, however, can hardly have in- 
jured him. At any rate, he felt that what he had done had 
been an amufement rather than anything elfe; and when he left 
that much-loved region, with its cheerful drives and walks, and 
with all the tender affociations that refted on it, — that tap- 
eftried the rooms of the old houfe and lighted up the whole 
landfcape, and its waters, woods, and hills, — he made the 
following fimple record : — 

Pepperell, O&ober 28th. — Return to town to-morrow. The country is 
now in its fplendid autumn robe, fomewhat torn, however, and draggled by the 
rain. Have been occupied with corrections and additions to my " Mexico." 
On my return to Bofton fhall refume my labors on " Philip," and, if my health 
continues as good as it has been this fummer, (hall hope to make fome progrefs. 
But I fhall not prefs matters. Our villeggiatura has been brightened by the 
prefence of all the children and grandchildren, God blefs them ! And now we 
icatter again, but not far apart. 

Thefe touching words are the laft he ever wrote in the 
private Memoranda, which he had now kept above forty years, 
and there are no words in the whole mafs of above twelve 
hundred pages that are more expreffive of what was peculiar 



Ch. XXVIII 

1858. 
JEt. 62. 



429 



43° 

Ch. XXVIII, 

1858. 

JEt. 62. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



to him. His domeftic affections were always uppermoft in his 
character, and never more fo than they were in the laft weeks 
and months of his life ; indeed, I think, never io much and 
io manifestly. How he loved his children, — all his children, 
— how he delighted in his grandchildren, how he held them 
all " in his heart of heart," thofe who moft knew him, knew 
beft. 

On his return to Bofton, he looked ftronger than he did when 
he left it four months earlier. His fpirits were more natural ; 
fometimes as bright as they had ever been. He was in better 
flefh, and his mufcular power was increafed, although not 
much. But I think he never parTed a day without a fenfe 
of the fhadow that he knew mull always reft on his way of 
life, whether it mould be long or fhort. 

During the firft weeks after his coming to town, he was 
occupied with affairs that had accumulated during his abfence. 
As ufual, they fomewhat wearied and annoyed him ; perhaps 
more than they had on other iimilar occafions. But he dif- 
miffed them from his thoughts as foon as he could, and then 
he feemed to turn with a fort of irrefiftible craving to the 
intellectual purfuits which long habit and confcientious devo- 
tion to them had made fo important to his happinefs. 

About New Year of 1859, he fpoke to me more than once 
of a change in his modes of life. He thought, as he told me, 
that, if his diet were made more nourifhing, his general ftrength 
would be improved, and he mould thus become capable of 
more labor in all ways, and efpecially upon his " Philip the 
Second." On this, however, he did not venture. His obe- 
dience to his medical director was exact to the laft. He 
reftrained himfelf rigorouily to a vegetable diet, and never 
took more wine than was prefcribed to him, as if it had been 
a medicine. 

But he could not fully refift the temptation of his old books 
and manufcripts; nor was he altogether difcouraged by his wife 
profeffional advifer from making an inconfiderable and wary 
experiment with them. Indeed, fomething of the fort feemed 



Last Occupations. 



to have become important for his health as well as for his fpir- 
its, which were now pining for the aliment that was demanded 
alike by his phyfical and moral conftitution. During two or 
three weeks, therefore, he was occupied with that portion of 
the Hiftory of Philip the Second with which his fourth vol- 
ume would neceffarily open. His refearches, no doubt, were 
not as laborious as they had fometimes been, when he was bufy 
with a difficult fubjecl:. They were, in fact., entirely prefatory, 
involving only the plan of an opening chapter, and the general 
mode in which that part of the war of the Netherlands might 
be difcuffed, to which the volume itfelf was to be largely 
devoted. Even in this, I believe, he was careful, and gave 
much lefs time to work than was his wont. But whenever he 
thought, he thought intently. He could not help it. It was 
a habit which he had cultivated with fo much care, that he 
could not now (hake it off. It is poffible, therefore, that his 
occupations during thefe weeks were among the caufes that 
haftened the final event. But if they were, their influence 
muft have been fmall. Nothing gave token of what, from 
infcrutable caufes, was not only inevitable, but was near. 

About a fortnight before his death, he suffered from an ague, 
which gave him fo much pain, that it entirely interrupted his 
accuftomed occupations. During the five or six days of its 
continuance, I fpent the leifure of each afternoon with him. 
His ftrength was a good deal diminifhed, and he was gener- 
ally lying on his sofa when I faw him ; but never was he 
brighter or more agreeable, never more cheerful or more 
interefting. And fo it continued to the end. I faw him 
only twice or three times afterwards ; but thofe who were 
conftantly with him, and watched every word and movement 
with affectionate folicitude, obferved no change. 

That his intellectual faculties were not affected, and that his 
temperament had loft little of its charming gayety, the letters 
and memoranda of the year leave no doubt. They were not, 
I fuppofe, always written without effort, but the effort was fuc- 
cefsful, which, in general, it would not have been, and in his 



431 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 
#/r. 62. 



432 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 6u 



Effe&s of apo- 
plexy. 



William Hick ling Prescott. 



cafe was fo in confequence mainly of the original elements 
that had been fo gently mixed in his whole nature. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 

Bofton, February 19 (indorfed 1858). 

Dear Bancroft, 

It is well enough for a man to be ill fometimes, if it is only to mow to him the 
affectionate fympathy of his friends, though in truth this was hardly neceffary to 
prove yours. Two weeks fince I had a flight touch of paralyfis, which mould 
have fallen on a man of more flefh than I can boaft. It was fo flight, however, 
that the doctor thinks there was no rupture of any veflel in the brain. The 
effects of it have paffed off, excepting only fome flight damage in that part of 
the cranium which holds proper names. I am fomewhat reduced, as much per- 
haps in confequence of the diet I am put upon as the difeafe \ for meat and gener- 
ous wine are profcribed for the prefent. 

So you are to make your bow to the public in May ; and the world, I have no 
doubt, as it mows figns of revival, will gladly wake from its winter's trance to 
receive you. 

That is a charming paragraph which you have fent me, containing a letter 
wholly new to me, 2 and I look forward to the hours when I fhall devour the 
coming volume, the one of greateft intereft to me, and not one leaft difficult 
to you. 

I hope your wife is in good health. Pray remember me moft affectionately 
to her, and believe me 

Ever faithfully your friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO MR. BANCROFT. 



Bofton, April 3, 1858. 



I am truly obliged to you, my dear Bancroft, for fending me your account of 
Bunker Hill battle, in which I am fo much interefted.3 I have read it with the 
greateft care and with equal pleafure. It was a difficult ftory to tell, confider- 
ing how much it has been disfigured by feelings of perfonal rivalry and foolifh 



2 A remarkable letter from Colonel 
Prefcott, the hiftorian's grandfather, to 
the Committee of Safety, in Bofton, Auguft, 
1774. See Bancroft's Hiftory, Vol. VII. 
(1858,) p. 99. Mr. Bancroft pofTeffes the 



autograph of this vigorous, patriotic docu- 
ment. 

J At the end of Vol. VII. of Bancroft's 
Hiftory, 1858, fent in the proof-fheet to 
Mr. Prefcott. 






Letter to Lady LyelL 



pretenfion. In my judgment, you have fleered clear of all thefe difficulties, and 
have told the ftory in a fimple though eloquent ftyle, that cannot fail to win the 
confidence of your reader, and fatisfy him that you have written with no defire 
but to tell the truth, after a careful ftudy of the whole ground. 

For the laft thirty years or more the friends and kinfmen of the prominent 
chiefs in the action have been hunting up old Revolutionary furvivors, molt of 
whom had furvived their own faculties, and extorting from them fuch views as 
could carry no conviction to a candid mind. My father took no intereft in all 
this, and made no effort to contradict the accounts thus given from time to time 
to the public. He thought, as I did, that thefe random ftatements would make 
no permanent impreflion on the public mind. He waited to fee — what I, more 
fortunate than he, have now lived to fee — an impartial account given of the 
action by the claflical pen of the hiftorian, whofe writings are deftined not merely 
for the prefent age, but for pofterity. While you have done entire juftice to my 
grandfather, you have been fcrupulous in giving due praife to Putnam and War- 
ren, and to the latter in particular you have paid an eloquent tribute, well 
deferved, and in vour happieft manner. 

You are now entering on the moft brilliant and fafcinating part of your grand 
fubject, and I hope no political coquetry will have the power to entice you 
away in another direction until you have brought it to a completion. Since my 
apoplectic thump I have done nothing in the literary way, giving my wits a good 
chance to fettle and come into their natural ftate again. I am rather tired of 
this kind of loafing, and am now beginning to fall into the old track, — but with 
caution. As I am on a vegetable diet, though the doctor has allowed me to 
mend my cheer with a little wine, I may hope to be armed againft any future 
attack. 

With affectionate remembrances to your wife, believe me, my dear Bancroft, 
Always faithfully your friend, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 

Bofton, April 5, 1858. 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
Sufan wrote you laft week an account of my apoplectic troubles, in which you 
take fo affectionate an intereft. The attack was one wholly unexpected by me, 
for I had nothing about me except the headaches of laft year, which looked in 
that direction. I am not a plethoric, red-vifaged gentleman, with a fhort neck 
and a portly paunch " with good capon lined," feeming to invite the attack of 
fuch an enemy. Nor am I yet turned of feventy, much lefs of eighty, when 
he takes advantage of decayed ftrength to fall upon his fuperannuated victim. 
But the fiend is no refpecter of perfons or ages. Yet I muft acknowledge he 
has dealt rather kindly with me. The blow caufed fome confternation in my 

55 



433 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 61. - 



Controverfy 
about the 
battle of Bun- 
ker's Hill. 



Apoplexy. 



434 

Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

Mt. 62. 

Diet. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



little circle, by fending my wits a wool-gathering for a few days. But they have 
gradually come to order again, and the worft thing that now remains is the 
anchoritifh fare of pulfe and water on which they have put me. Probably owing 
to this meagre diet more than to the difeafe, I have been fomewhat reduced in 
ftrength. But as the doctor has now reinforced my banquet with a couple of 
glafles of fherry, I look confidently to regaining my former vigor, and gradually 
refuming my historical labors, — amufements I mould fay, for the hardeft thing 
to do is to do nothing. We are made happy now by the return of Amory, who 
is foon to be followed by William and his family, who will make one houfehold 
with us this fummer at Lynn. It is a pleafant reunion to look forward to after 
our long feparation 



MEMORANDA. 

April 1 8th, 1858. — More than five months fince the laft entry. During 
the firft three I wrote text and notes of Book VI., Chapters I. and II. , in all 
eighty-five pages print. On the 4th of February I had a flight apoplectic mock, 
which affected both fight and power of motion, the laft but for a few moments. 

The attack — fo unexpected, though I had been troubled with headaches 
through the winter, in a lefs degree, however, than in the preceding year — 
caufed great alarm to my friends at firft. Much reafon have I to be grateful 
that the effects have gradually difappeared, and left no traces now, except a flight 
obfcurity in the vifion, and a certain degree of weaknefs, which may perhaps be 
imputable to my change of diet. For I have been obliged to exchange my car- 
nivorous propenfities for thofe of a more innocent and primitive nature, picking 
up my fare as our good parents did before the fall. In this way it is thought 
I may defy the foul fiend for the future. But I muft not make too heavy or 
long demands on the cranium, and if I can get three or four hours' work on my 
hiftoric ground in a day, I muft be content. 



TO MR. PARSONS.4 

Bofton, April 20, 1858. 

Dear Theoph., 
I return you the vegetarian treatife, with many thanks. It furnifhes a moft 
important contribution to kitchen literature. From the long time I have kept 



4 This note needs a little explanation, 
and I will give it in the words of the 
friend to whom it is addrefled. He fays : 
" I had been advifed to eat mainly vegeta- 
ble food ; and, noticing among the adver- 



tifements of London books one of a vege- 
tarian cookery-book, I ordered it ; and, 
when Prefcott told me that he was ftri&ly 
limited to a vegetable diet, I fent it to 
him." 



Letter to Lady Lyell. 



it, you might think I have been copying the receipts. I marked fome for the 
purpofe, but foon found them fo numerous, that I concluded to fend to Lon- 
don for the book itfelf. I mall receive a copy in a few days. I was very forry 
to hear that you had wounded yourfelf with a pruning-knife, and I truft long 
before this you have got over the effects of it. This is an accident that cannot 
befall me. The more 's the pity. I wifh with all my heart I could get up 
a little horticultural gufto, if it were only for multiplying and varying the pleas- 
ures of life. 

God blefs you, dear Theoph. Believe me, always affectionately yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



My dear Lady Lyell, 
It was a lovinp- remembrance 



g 



you. 



that 



Bofton, May 31, 1858. 



fhc 



of my birthday. \ mows you 
have a good memory, at leaft for your friends. Threefcore year? .nd two is a 
venerable age, and mould lead one to put his houfe in order, efpe/ ly after fuch 
a thump on the cranium as I have had. I hope I mall round -.ff threefcore 
years and ten, at leaft, before I get another. I was greatly cheered the other 
day by finding in a biographical account of Adam Fergufon, that, after a fevere 
paralytic fhock at fifty, he furvived on a vegetable diet to ninety-three, and 
wrote books, too, which people ftill continue to read. Indeed, it was thought 
that his vegetable fare ferved rather to clarify his wits. It is a very watery diet 
at any rate, better fuited, I mould fay, to moral philofophy than to carnivorous 
hiftory. Fergufon, however, wrote both. 

I fuppofe in giddy London you don't get time to read much, that is, in the 
London feafon. Have you met with Bancroft's laft volume, publifhed at the 
beginning of the prefent month ? It is occupied with a topic very interefting to 
us Yankees, and, in the clofing chapters, does honor, of which it has been too 
long defrauded, to my grandfather, Colonel Prefcott's memory. The book is 
written with fpirit, but it is a pity he has not fupported his ftory by a fingle note 
or reference. The reader muft take it all on the writer's word. And yet his 
original materials are ample. 

I fuppofe you have read Buckle ; indeed, Anna Ticknor told me that you 
liked him much. I am fure your hufband muft relifh his acute and liberal- 
minded fpeculations, and efpecially the intrepidity with which he enters upon 
fields of difcuflion on which Englifh writers are apt to tread fo daintily, not to 
fay timidly. He doubts in the true fpirit of a philofopher. And yet he dogma- 
tizes in a ftyle the moft oppofed to philofophy. He would make a more agree- 
able impreftion if, with his doubts, he would now and then fhow a little doubt 



43 5 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 62. 



Fergufon's apo- 
plexy. 



Bancroft's Hif- 
tory. 



Buckle's " Civ- 
ilization." 



43 6 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1858. 

JEt. 62. 



Apoplexy. 



"Philip the Sec- 
ond." 



" Conqueft of 
Mexico." 



William Hickling Prescott. 



of himfelf. But whatever defects of manner he may have, I fuppofe few readers 
will deny that his big volume is the book of the age. 

I dined with the Ticknors laft week ; a quiet little meeting of only two or 
three guefts. Everett, who was there, was in good trim. His Wafhington 
addrefs, with its concomitants, has done as much for him as for the Monument, 
by building him up. I have not feen him in fo good condition for a long 
while 



TO MADAME CALDERON. 

Lynn, September 7, 1858. 

My dear Madame Calderon, 
It is very long fince I have exchanged a kindly greeting with you acrofs the 
waters, — not fince your return to Spain. I have kept fome knowledge of your 
whereabouts, however, but not as much as I could defire, which nobody can 
give but yourfelf, — where you have been, where you are now flaying, what 
you are doing. Is my good friend Calderon ftill coquetting with politics ? Or 
is he living at eafe, letting the world go by, like an honeft cavalier, as I do ? I 
hope, at all events, that both you and he are in good health, and in the enjoyment 
of all the happinefs that this world can give. You will tell me fomething about 
all this when you write, won't you ? For myfelf, I have been very well of late, 
though, during the laft winter, in February, I experienced, what was little ex- 
pected, an apoplectic attack. It alarmed my friends a good deal, and frightened 
me out of my wits for a time. But the effects have gradually pafTed off, leaving 
me only a flight increafe of the obfcurity in my vifion. As I don't intend the 
foul fiend fhall return again, I live upon vegetables and farinaceous matter, like 
the anchorites of old. For your apoplexy is a dangerous fellow, who lives upon 
good cheer, fat and red-faced gentlemen, who feed upon fomething better than 
beets and carrots. I don't care about the fare, but I mould be forry not to give 
the laft touches to Philip the Prudent, and to leave him in the world in a dis- 
membered condition ! I am amufing myfelf now with putting through the prefs 
the third volume. This will make three fifths of the whole work. Five vol- 
umes are as heavy a load as pofterity will be willing to take upon its moulders ; 
and I am ambitious enough to confign my wares to pofterity. The book will 
make its appearance in December, and will give you and Calderon fome winter 
evenings' readings, if you are not too much abforbed in the affairs of the public 
to have time for private matters. I am juft now occupied with making fome 
notes and corrections for a new edition of the " Conqueft of Mexico." I have 
particularly good materials for this in the two Mexican tranflations of it, one of 
them having Alaman's notes, and the other thofe of Ramirez. I know very 
little about thefe eminent fcholars, though I have fomewhere a notice which 
was fent me of Alaman, put away fo carefully and fo long ago that I doubt if I 
can lay my hands on it. Could you not give me fome little account of thefe 



Letter to the Earl of Carlisle. 



two worthies, — of the offices they hold, their focial pofition, and general efti- 
mation ? Ramirez fomewhere remarks that he belongs to the old Mexican race. 
This explains the difference of his views on fome points from Alaman's, who 
has a true love for the " Conquiftadores." On the whole 



it is a trial, which 



few hiftorians have experienced, to be fubjected to fo fevere a criticifm, fentence 
by fentence, of two of the molt eminent fcholars of their countrv. Though 
thev have picked many holes in my finerv, I cannot deny that thev have done it 
in the beft fpirit and in the moft courtly ftyle 



TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE. 

Bofton, December 27, 1858. 

My dear Carlisle, 

My eve was caught by the fight of your name this morning, as I was running 
over the columns of my daily paper, and I read an extract from a lateaddrefs of 
vours at Hull, not fo complimentary as I could have wifhed to my own country. 
The tone of remark, differing a good deal from the ufual ftyle of your remarks 
on us, is, I fear, not undeferved. The more 's the pity. I fend you the extracts, 
for, as I fuppofe vou intended it for our edification as well as for your own coun- 
trymen, I thought you might be pleafed to fee that it was quoted here. At any 
rate, I imagine vou will be gratified with the candid and liberal ftyle in which it 
is received. The Bofton "Daily Advertifer " is one of our moft refpectable 
journals, and I may add that the opinions expreffed in it perfectly coincide with 
thofe of feveral well-informed perfons who have fpoken to me on the matter, 
and for whofe judgment you would entertain refpecl:. 

I am not willing, any more than the editor is, to agree with you in your de- 
fponding views as to the deftinies of our country, and I fhould mourn for my 
race if I thought that the grand experiment we are making of the capacity of 
men for felf-government {hould prove a failure. We muft not be too haftily 
judged. We are a young people, and have been tried by the fevereft of all 
trials, uninterrupted profperity ; a harder trial than adverfity for a nation as well 
as for an individual. We have many men of high intelligence as well as found 
principle in the country, and, fhould exigencies arife to call them into action, 
I cannot doubt that they would take the place of the vaporing politicians who 
have been allowed too much to direct the affairs of the republic. 

I have juft come out with a third volume of " Philip the Second," and I hope 
ere this you have received a copy which I directed my publifher, Routledge, to 
fend you at once. 

Should he not have done fo, vou will oblige me much by advertifing me of it, 
as I wifh you to have all my literary bantlings from my own hand. I have done 
myfelf the pleafure alfo to fend a copy to the Duchefs and Lady Mary. I truft 
that you and yours are all in good health. 

This reminds me of a blank in your circle, one dear and revered name, which 



43 7 



Ch. XXVIII 

1858. 

JEt. 62. 



Lord Carlifle's 
opinions of 
the United 
States. 



Invitation to 
England. 



438 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 



William Hickliitg Prescott. 



I never omitted when I wrote to you. She has gone to a better world than this. 
I rauft thank you for fending me, through Everett, the miniature photograph of 
her, furprifingly like, confidering the fize. Pray remember me kindly to the 
Duchefs and to Lady Mary, when you fee them, 
their kindeft remembrances to you, with which 
always 

Affectionately yours, 



My fon and daughter defire 
believe me, my dear friend, 



Wm. H. Prescott. 



TO LADY LYELL. 



1859. 



Bofton, January 10, 

My dear Lady Lyell, 
I muft not let another packet go without thanking you for the friendly invi- 
tation given by you and your hufband to Sufan and myfelf to vifit you this fpring ; 
and although it will not be in our power to accept it, you will believe that we 
are not the lefs grateful to the loving hearts which dictated it. You, who put 
a girdle round the earth in as little time almoft as Puck, can have no idea of the 
way in which we have ftruck our roots in the foil, as immovable as the great 
tree on the Common. As to my wife, a voyage to the moon would not be 
more chimerical in her eyes than a trip (as they pleafantly call it) acrofs the At- 
lantic. She will die, without ever having got fo far as New York. I do hope, 
however, that we are not deftined never to meet again, though I think it muft 
be in your hufband's purfuit after fcience. The book of nature is a big one, 
and there are fome pages in it on American antiquities which he has not yet 
read, I fuppofe. At all events, I hope we fhall meet again in this lower world, 
before we get to the land of fpirits. We mould like to fee each other in the 
form to which we have been accuftomed, not in the guife of a fhadow, or of a 
flickering flame, as Dante put his loving fouls into the Inferno. Such a meeting 
would be only of the voice, without even a friendly grafp of the hand, to make 
the heart beat. It would be like a talk between friends, after a long abfence on 
the different fides of a partition to divide them. Yet if we don't meet before 
long, I don't know, but I mould rather poftpone the interview till we have 
croffed the Styx. But you, I am told, are reverfing the order of nature. 
I wonder where you got your recipe for it. Yet the youth of the body is, 
after all, eafier to preferve than the youth of the foul. I fhould like a recipe 
for that. Life is fo ftale when one has been looking at it for more than fixty 
winters ! It would be a miracle if the blood were not a little chilled 



Letters from Irving and Macaulay. 



FROM MR. IRVING. 



My dear Mr. Prescott, 



Sunnyfide, January 12, 1859. 



I cannot thank you enough for the third volume of your "Philip," which you 
have had the kindnefs to fend me. It came moft opportunely to occupy and 
intereft me when rather deprefled by indifpofition. I have read with great 
intereft your account of the Rebellion of the Morifcoes, which took me among 
the Alpuxarras mountains, which I once traverfed with great delight. It is a fad 
ftory, the trampling down and expulfion of that gallant race from the land they 
won fo bravely and cultivated and adorned with fuch induftry, intelligence, and 
good tafte. You have done ample juftice to your fubjeft. 

The battle of Lepanto is the fplendid picture of your work, and has never 
been fo admirably handled. 

I congratulate you on the achievement of the volume, which forms a fine 
variety from the other parts of your literary undertakings. 

Giving you my beft wifhes that you may go on and profper, I remain, my dear 
Mr. Prefcott, 

Yours ever truly and heartily, 

Washington Irving. 

Wm. H. Prescott, Esq. 



FROM LORD MACAULAY.5 

Holly Lodge, Kenfington, January 8, 1859. 

My dear Sir, 
I have already delayed too long to thank you for your third volume. It is 
excellent, and, I think, fuperior to anything that you have written, parts of the 
" Hiftory of the Conqueft of Mexico " excepted. Moft of thofe good judges 
whofe voices I have been able to collecl:, at this dead time of the year, agree 
with me. This is the feafon when, in this country, friends interchange good 
wifhes. I do not know whether that fafhion has crofTed the Atlantic. Probably 
not, for your Pilgrim Fathers held it to be a fin to keep Chriftmas and Twelfth 
Day. I hope, however, that you will allow me to exprefs my hope that the 
year which is beginning may be a happy one to you. 

Ever yours truly, 

Macaulay. 
Wm. H. Prescott, Esq^, &c. &c. 

5 This letter Mr. Prefcott never had the pleafure of reading. It arrived a few days 
after his death. 



439 



Ch. XXVIII. 

1859. 

JEt. 62. 



'Philip the Sec- 
ond." 



"Philip the Sec-, 
ond." 



44° 

Ch. XXVIII, 

1859. 

Mt. 62. 



Agafliz. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



TO SIR CHARLES LYELL. 

Bofton, January 23, 1859. 

My dear Sir Charles, 

I have had the pleafure of receiving your friendly letter of December 31ft, 
and muft thank you for another, in which you fo kindly invited my wife and me 
to vifit you in England. Nothing, you may well believe, could give her and 
myfelf greater pleafure than to pafs fome time under your hofpitable roof, which 
would afford me the inexpreflible fatisfaction of taking fome friends again by the 
hand, whofe faces I would give much to fee. But I have long fince abandoned 
the thought of crofting the great water, and the friends on the other fide of it 
are, I fear, henceforth to find a place with me only in the pleafures of memory. 
And pleafant recollections they afford to fill many an hour which the world 
would call idle, for there is neither fame nor money to be made out of them. 
But one who has croffed fixty (how near are you to that ominous line ?) will 
have found out that there is fomething of more worth than fame or money in 
this world. I was laft evening with Agafliz, who was in capital fpirits at the 
profpec~f. of opening to the public a project of a great mufeum, for which Frank 
Gray, as I fuppofe you know, left an appropriation of fifty thoufand dollars. 
There will be a fubfcription fet on foot, I underftand, for raifing a fimilar fum 
to provide a fuitable building for the collection, — a great part of which has 
already been formed by Agafliz himfelf, — and the Governor, at a meeting of 
the friends of the fcheme held the other evening at James Lawrence's, gave the 
molt cordial affurances of fubffantial aid from the State. Agafliz expreffed the 
greateft confidence to me of being able in a few years to eftablifh an inftitution, 
which would not fhrink from comparifon with fimilar eftablifhments in Europe. 
He has been fuffering of late from inflammation of the eyes, a trouble to which 
he is unaccuftomed, but for which he may thank his own imprudence. I am 
glad to learn that you are purfuing, with your ufual energy, your flu dies on 
iEtna. The fubjecl: is one of the greateft intereft. I muft congratulate you 
on the reception of the Copley medal. However we may defpife, or affecl: to 
defpife, the vulgar volitare per or a, it is a fatisfaction to find one's labors appre- 
ciated by the few who are competent to pronounce on their value. 

Good by, my dear Lyell. With kindeft remembrances to your wife, believe 
me always faithfully yours, 

Wm. H. Prescott. 



This is the lateft letter from my friend that has come to my 
knowledge. Notes he continued to write afterwards. I re- 
ceived feveral fuch down to within two or three days of his 
death, and others, I doubt not, were fent to other perfons in 
kindnefs or on bufinefs at the fame period. In this and in all 



Last Pleas^ires. 



refpects, he went on as ufual. He feemed to himfelf to grow 
better and better, and was even in a condition to enjoy fome of 
the pleafures of fociety. We had occafionally dined at each 
other's houfes from the preceding fpring, as he has noticed in 
his letters to Lady Lyell, already inferted ; and, lefs than a week 
before his death, I was to have met a fmall party of friends 
at his own table. But a family affliction prevented his hofpi- 
tality, and I was afterwards glad, as I well might be, that the 
dinner did not take place. Not that he would have failed in 
abftinence; but he was lefs ftrong than he believed himfelf to 
be, and lefs than we all hoped he was, io that the fatal blow 
then impending might, by the excitement of merely focial 
intercourfe, have fallen fooner than it otherwife would, or, at 
leaft, we might afterwards have believed that it had. 



44 1 



Ch.XXVIIT. 

1859. 

JEt. 62. 




L 







442 



Chap.XXIX. 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 





CHAPTER XXIX. 

i8 S9 . 

Anxiety to return to ferious Work. — P leaf ant Forenoon. — Sudden Attack 
of Apoplexy. — Death. — His Wijhes refpecling his Remains. — Funeral. 
— Exprejfions of Sorrow on both fides of the Atlantic. 

ROM day to day, after New Year of 1859, he 
feemed more to mifs his old occupations. On 
the 27th of January, he talked decidedly of 
beginning again in good earneft his work on the 
" Hiftory of Philip the Second," and fpecu- 
lated on the queftion whether, if he mould find 
his phyfical ftrength unequal to the needful exertion, he might 
venture to reinforce it by a freer diet. On the following 
morning — the fatal day — he talked of it again, as if his 
mind were made up to the experiment, and as if he were 
looking forward to his talk as to the opening again of an old 
and fure mine of content. His lifter, Mrs. Dexter, was hap- 
pily in town making him a vifit, and was fitting that forenoon 
with Mrs. Prefcott in a drerling-room, not far from the ftudy 
where his regular work was always done. He himfelf, in the 
early part of the day, was unoccupied, walking about his room 
for a little exercife; the weather being fo bad that none ven- 
tured out who could well avoid it. Mr. Kirk, his ever-faithful 
fecretary, was looking over Sala's lively book about Ruflia, 
"A Journey due North/' for his own amufement merely, but 






His Death. 



occasionally reading aloud to Mr. Prefcott fuch portions as he 
thought peculiarly interefting or pleafant. On one paffage, 
which referred to a former Minifter of Ruffia at Wafhington, 
he paufed, becaufe neither of them could recollect the name 
of the perfon alluded to ; and Mr. Prefcott, who did not like 
to find his memory at fault, went to his wife and lifter to fee 
if either of them could recall it for him. After a moment's 
hefitation, Mrs. Prefcott hit upon it ; a circumftance which 
amufed him not a little, as fhe fo rarely took an intereft in any- 
thing connected with public affairs, that he had rather counted 
upon Mrs. Dexter for the information. He fnapped his fingers 
at her, therefore, as he turned away, and, with the merry laugh 
fo characteriftic of his nature, palled out of the room, faying, 
as he went, "How came you to remember?" They were the 
laft words fhe ever heard from his loved lips. 

After reaching his ftudy, he ftepped into an adjoining apart- 
ment. While there, Mr. Kirk heard him groan, and, hurrying 
to him, found him ftruck with apoplexy and wholly uncon- 
fcious. This was about half paft eleven o'clock in the fore- 
noon. He was inftantly carried to his chamber. In the 
fhorteft poffible fpace of time, feveral medical attendants were 
at his bedfide, and among them — and the chief of them — 
was his old friend and his father's friend, Dr. Jackfon. One 
of their number, Dr. Minot, brought me the fad intelligence, 
adding his own auguries, which were of the worft. I haftened 
to the houfe. What grief and difmay I found there need not 
to be told. All faw that the inevitable hour was come. Rem- 
edies availed nothing. He never fpoke again, never recovered 
an inftant of confciousnefs, and at half paft two o'clock life 
paffed away without fuffering. 

He would himfelf have preferred fuch a death, if choice had 
been permitted to him. He had often faid fo to me and to 
others; and none will gainfay, that it was a great happinefs 
thus to die, furrounded by all thofe neareft and deareft to 
him, except one much-loved fon, who was at a diftance, and 
to die, too, with unimpaired faculties, and with affections not 



443 



Chap.XXIX, 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 



January the 
28th. 



444 



Chap.XXIX 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



only as frefh and true as they had ever been, but which, in his 
own home and in the innermost circle of his friends, had feemed 
to grow ftronger and more tender to the laft. 

Four days afterwards he was buried ; two withes, however, 
having firft been fulfilled, as he had earneftly defired that they 
mould be. They related wholly to himfelf, and were as fimple 
and unpretending as he was. 

From accidental circumftances, he had always entertained 
a peculiar dread of being buried alive; and he had, there- 
fore, often required that meafures mould be taken to prevent 
all poflibility of the horrors that might follow fuch an occur- 
rence. His injunctions were obeyed. Of his abfolute death 
it was not, indeed, permitted to doubt. It had occurred under 
circumftances which had been diftinctly forefeen, and by a 
blow only too obvious, fure, and terrible. But ftill, as had 
been promifed to him, a principal vein was fevered, fo that, if 
life mould again be awakened, it might ebb filently away 
without any poffible return of confcioufnefs. 

His other requeft was no lefs natural and characteriftic. He 
defired that his remains, before they mould be depofited in the 
houfe appointed for all living, might reft, for a time, in the 
cherifhed room where were gathered the intellectual treafures 
amidft which he had found fo much of the happinefs of his 
life. And this wifh, too, was fulfilled. Silently, noifeleffly, he 
was carried there. Few witnefled the folemn fcene, but on 
thofe who did, it made an impreflion not to be forgotten. 
There he lay, in that rich, fair room, — his manly form 
neither fhrunk nor wafted by difeafe ; the features that had 
exprefTed and infpired fo much love ftill hardly touched by the 
effacing fingers of death, — there he lay, in unmoved, inac- 
ceftible peace; and the lettered dead of all ages and climes and 
countries collected there feemed to look down upon him in their 
earthly immortality, and claim that his name fhould hereafter 
be imperifhably affociated w T ith theirs. 

But this was only for a feafon. At the appointed hour — his 
family, and none elfe, following — he was borne to the church 



His Funeral. 



where he was wont to worfhip. No ceremonies had been 
arranged for the occafion. There had been no invitations. 
There was no fhow. But the church was full, was crowded. 
The Reprefentatives of the Commonwealth, then in feflion, 
had adjourned fo as to be prefent ; the members of the Hif- 
torical Society, whofe honored wifh to take official charge of 
the duties of the occafion had been declined, were there as 
mourners. The whole community was moved ; the poor 
whom he had befriended ; the men of letters with whom he 
had been aflbciated or whom he had aided ; the elevated by 
place or by fortune, whofe diftinctions and happinefs he had 
increafed by fharing them ; — they were all there. It was a 
forrowful gathering, fuch as was never before witnefled in this 
land for the obfequies of any man of letters wholly uncon- 
nected, as he had been, with public affairs and the parties or 
paffions of the time ; — one who was known to mod of the 
crowd collected around his bier only by the filent teachings 
of his printed works. For, of the multitude aflembled, few 
could have known him perfonally ; many of them had never 
feen him. But all came to mourn. All felt that an honor had 
been taken from the community and the country. They came 
becaufe they felt the lofs they had fuftained, and only for that, 
And after the fimple and folemn religious rites befitting the 
occafion had been performed, 1 they ftill crowded round the 
funeral train and through the ftreets, following, with fadnefs 
and awe, the hearfe that was bearing from their fight all that 
remained of one who had been watched not a week before as 
he trod the fame ftreets in apparent happinefs and health. It 
was a grand and touching tribute to intellectual eminence and 
perfonal worth. 

He was buried with his father and mother, and with the 
little daughter he had fo tenderly loved, in the family tomb 
under St. Paul's Church ; and, as he was laid down befide 
them, the audible fobs of the friends who filled that gloomy 

1 By Mr. Prefcott's clergyman, the Rev. Rufus Ellis, pallor of the Firft Congrega- 
tional Church in Bolton. 



445 



Chap.XXIX. 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 



44 6 



Chap.XXIX. 

1859. 
JEt. 62. 



William Hickling Prescott. 



crypt bore witnefs to their love for his generous and fweet 
nature, even more than to their admiration for his literary dis- 
tinctions, or to their fenfe of the honor he had conferred on 
his country. 

Other expreffions of the general feeling followed. The 
Maflachufetts Hiftorical Society ; the Hiftorical Societies of 
New York, of Pennfylvania, of Maryland, and of Illinois ; 
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; the American 
Antiquarian Society ; the New England Genealogical Society ; 
the Effex Inftitute, meeting on the fpot where he was born ; 
and the Bofton Athenaeum and Harvard College, with which, 
from his youth, he had been much connected, — each bore 
its efpecial and appropriate part in the common mourning. 
The multitudinous periodicals and newfpapers of the country 
were filled with it, and the fame tone was foon afterwards 
heard from no fmall portion of what is moft eminent for 
intellectual cultivation in Europe. There was no divifion of 
opinion. There was no diflentient, no hefitating voice, on 
either fide of the Atlantic. All forrowfully felt that a great 
lofs had been fuftained ; that a brilliant and beneficent light 
had been extinguished. 





APPENDIX A 



THE PRESCOTT FAMILY. 

(See p. i.) 

fefl^lig^ J$ M HE Prefcott family belong to the original Puritan ftoek and 
j blood of New England. They came from Lancafhire, and 
about 1640, twenty years only after the firft fettlement at 
Plymouth and ten years after that of Bofton, were eftab- 
lifhed in Middlefex County, MafTachufetts, where not a few 
of the honored race ftill remain. 

Like moft of the earlier emigrants, who left their native 
homes from confcientious motives, they were men of 
ftrongly marked characters, but of fmall eftates, and devoted to mechanical and 
agricultural purfuits, — circumftances which fitted them as nothing elfe could 
fo well have done for the trials and labors incident to their fettlement in this 
Weftern wildernefs. But, even among men like thefe, the Prefcotts were dif- 
tinguimed from the firft. They enjoyed, to an uncommon degree, the refpecl: 
of the community which they helped to found, and became at once more or 
lefs concerned in the management of the entire Colony of MafTachufetts, when 
thofe who took part in its affairs bore heavy burdens and led anxious lives. 
57 




449 



Appendix A. 



45° 



Appendix A. 



John Prefcott. 



Jonas Prefcott. 



Benjamin Pref- 
cott. 



Aftfteitdix. 



John, the firft emigrant, was a large, able-bodied man, who, after living fome 
time in Watertown, eftablifhed himfelf in Lancafter, then on the frontiers of 
civilization. There he acquired a good eftate and defended it bravely from the 
incurfions of the Indians, to whom he made himfelf formidable by occafionally 
appearing before them in a helmet and cuirafs, which he had brought with him 
from England, where he was faid to have ferved under Cromwell. His death is 
placed in 1683. 

Of him are recorded by Mr. William Prefcott, father of the hiftorian, the 
following traditionary anecdotes, — given him by Dr. Oliver Prefcott, — which 
may ferve, at leaft, to mark the condition of the times when he lived. 

" He brought over," fays Mr. Prefcott, " a coat of mail-armor and habili- 
ments, fuch as were ufed by field-officers of that time. An aged lady informed 
Mr. Oliver Prefcott l that me had feen him drefled in this armor. Lancafter 
(where Mr. Prefcott eftablifhed himfelf) was a frontier town, much expofed to the 
incurfions of the Indians. John was a fturdy, ftrong man, with a ftern coun- 
tenance, and, whenever he had a difficulty with the Indians, clothed himfelf with 
his coat of armor, — helmet, cuirafs, and gorget, — which gave him a fierce 
and frightful appearance. It is related, that when, on one occafion, they ftole 
a valuable horfe from him, he put on his armor and purfued them, and after 
fome time overtook the party that had his horfe. They were furprifed to fee 
him alone, and one of the chiefs approached him with his tomahawk uplifted. 
John told him to ftrike, which he did, and, finding the blow made no impreffion 
on his cap, he was aftonifhed, and afked John to let him put it on, and then to 
ftrike on his head, as he had done on John's. The helmet was too fmall for 
the Indian's head, and the weight of the blow fettled it down to his ears, fcraping 
off the fkin on both fides. They gave him his horfe, and let him go, thinking 
him a fupernatural being. 

" At another time the Indians fet fire to his barn. Old John put on his 
armor and ruihed out upon them. They retreated before him, and he let 
his horfes and cattle out of the burning ftable. At another time they fet fire to 
his faw-mill. The old man armed cap-a-pied, went out, drove them off, and 
extinguifhed the fire." 

Jonas, a fon of the firft emigrant, was born in 1648, and died in 1723, 
feventy-five years old. He lived in Groton. He was a captain of the yeomanry 
militia, at a time when the neighborhood of the favages made fuch a poft impor- 
tant to the fafety of the country, and he was a juftice of the peace when that 
office, alfo, implied a degree of confideration and authority now unknown to it. 

Benjamin, one of the fons of Jonas, was born January 4, 1695-6. He 
reprefented his native town many years in the General Court of the Colony, was 
a colonel in the militia of his own county, and of the adjoining county of Wor- 
cefter, and in the year before his death, which occurred in 1738, was delegated 
to the important fervice of defending the territorial rights of MafTachufetts 
againft the claims of New Hampfhire, before a royal commiffion appointed to 
adjudge the cafe. 2 

1 Born in 173 1, and died in 1804. the matter. See Journal of the Houfe of 

2 This has fometimes been otherwife Repreientatives, Auguft 12th, and October 
Hated, but the record leaves no doubt upon 13th, 1737. 



The Prescott Family. 



45i 



Oliver Prefcott. 



Benjamin had three fons, each of whom diftinguifhed himfelf in the line of Appendix A. 
life he had chofen. 

The eldeft, James, remained on the family eftate at home, and cultivated and James Prefcott. 
managed it. He patted through all the degrees of military rank, from that of an 
enfign to that of colonel. He reprefented Groton, for a long period, in the 
General Court, and was afterwards in the Colonial Governor's Council. At 
the outbreak of the Revolution, taking the popular fide, he became a member 
of the Provincial Congrefs and of the Board of War, and, after the peace of 
1783, was fucceffively fheriff of the county and Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. He died, more than feventy-nine years old, in 1800, at Groton, 
where the family had then been fettled above a century. 

Oliver, the youngeft fon of Benjamin, was born in 1731. He was graduated 
at Harvard College in 1750, and became fubfequently an eminent phyfician in 
Groton and its neighborhood. But, like others of his family, he turned to public 
affairs, both military and civil. In 1777, and for feveral years afterwards, he 
was of the Governor's Council, and in 1778 he became one of the major- 
generals in the fervice of the Commonwealth. A fevere illnefs in 1781 fome- 
what impaired his activity, and the fame year he was appointed Judge of Probate 
for his native county of Middlefex, an office which he held, to the great accept- 
ance of all, till his death. He, however, never ceafed to be interefted in his 
original profeffion, and, befides other marks of diftincl:ion for his medical knowl- 
edge, he received in 1791 the degree of Do6tor in Medicine, honoris caufa, from 
Harvard College. He died in 1804, leaving feveral fons, the eldeft of whom, 
Oliver, delivered an addrefs before the Maftachufetts Medical Society in 18 13, 
on the Secale cornutum or ergot, which was found fo important in relation to the 
ufe of that remedv, that, befides being reprinted in this country and in London, 
it was tranflated into French and German, and inferted in the thirteenth volume 
of the Ditlionnaire des Sciences Mcdicales. He died at Newburyport in 1827. 

William, the fecond fon of Benjamin, and grandfather of the hiftorian, was 
of a more bold and enterprifing nature than his brother James, and has left 
a name which will not be forgotten. He was born in Groton on the 20th of 
February, 1726 ; but, in a fpirit of adventure common throughout New Eng- 
land at that period, and not yet unknown, he preferred to remove farther into 
the land and eftablifh himfelf in the primeval foreft. This he did, before he ^StfJS?" 
was of age. But it was not neceflary for him to go far. He removed only 
a few miles, and afterwards, when he had ferved as a foldier, caufed the land on 
a part of which he had fettled to be made a townfhip, naming it after Sir William 
Pepperell, who had juft then fo much diftinguifhed himfelf by the capture of 
Louifbourg. Pepperell is in the upper part of the county of Middlefex, jufl on 
the line of the State, and next to the town of Hollis, which is in New Hamp- 
fhire. There, not above a mile from the border, he always lived, — or at leait 
he always had his onlv home there, — holding his eftate, as his great-grandfon 
continues to hold it ftill in 1862, under the original Indian title. The Indians, 
indeed, long continued to be his near neighbors; fo near, that there were periods 
of anxiety, during which thofe who went to the field with the plough did not 
feel fafe unlefs their rifles flood leaned againft the neighboring trees. 



William PrH- 
cott, grand- 
father to the 
hiftorian. 



iclr" iii Pep- 
pet 



-rell. 



452 



Appendix A 

Serves in the 
army. 



Adheres to the 
patriotic party. 



Made a colonel. 



Appendix. 



This was a rude training, no doubt ; and living, as he did, among the favages, 
an unmarried man, it feems early to have given him foldierlike habits and taftes. 
At any rate, when he was twenty-feven years old, he was a lieutenant in the 
militia, and at twenty-nine, in the true fpirit of adventure, entered, with the 
fame rank, the regular fervice in the Colonial troops fent to remove the French 
from Nova Scotia. This was in 1755. But the fervice was a fhort, and not an 
agreeable one. On his return home, therefore, he left the army, and married 
Abigail Hale, a defcendant, like himfelf, of the original Puritan flock of the 
country. It was a fortunate connection for the young foldier, who now feemed 
to have fettled down on his farm for a peaceful and happy life, retaining only fo 
much of his military taftes as was implied by accepting the command of the 
yeomanry of his neighborhood. 

But troublefome times foon followed, and a fpirit like his was fure to be 
ftirred by them. This he early permitted to be feen and known. In Auguft, 
1774, he counfelled his aflembled townfmen to ftand by the men of Bofton in 
their refiftance to the unjuft and unconftitutional claims of the royal authority, 
and embodied their thoughts and purpofes in a fervent letter which is ftill extant. 
" Be not difmayed," he faid, u nor difheartened in this day of great trials. We 
heartily fympathize with you, and are always ready to do all in our power for 
your fupport, comfort, and relief, knowing that Providence has placed you where 
you muft ftand the firft fhock. We confider, we are all embarked in one bot- 
tom, and muft fink or fwim together." 3 Soon afterwards, in 1775, being recog- 
nized as a good foldier, who in Nova Scotia had become familiar with the 
difcipline of a camp, and being, befides, no lefs known for his political firmnefs, 
he was made colonel of a regiment of minute-men, who, as their name implies, 
were to be ready at a moment's warning for any revolutionary emergency. It 
was a duty he loved, and it was not long before his courage and firmnefs were 
put to the teft.4 



3 Bancroft's " Hiftory of the United 
States," Vol. VII. (Bofton, 1858), p. 99. 
This is the document already alluded to, 
(ante, p. 432, note,) as fent by Mr. Ban- 
croft to Mr. Prefcott the hiftorian. 

4 Two circumftances in relation to this 
commimon are worth notice. The firft is, 
that, with a difregard to exadtnefs not un- 
common in times of great peril, the month 
and day of the month when the commif- 
fion was iffued are not given. The other 
is, that the Prefident of " the Congrefs 
of the Colony of the Maffachufetts Bay " 
who ligned it is General Jofeph Warren, 
who fell a few days later on Bunker Hill ; 
and the juftice of the peace before whom, 
on the 26th of May, 1775, Colonel Pref- 
cott took the oath of allegiance, was Sam- 
uel Dexter, one of the leading men of the 



Colony, — the grandfather of Mr. Franklin 
Dexter, who, nearly half a century later, 
married a granddaughter of the fame Colo- 
nel Prefcott, — a man of fevere integrity, 
and of an original, ftrong, uncompromifing 
character, who, during the ihort period in 
which his health allowed him to occupy 
himfelf with political affairs, exercifed no 
fmall influence in the troubled common- 
wealth. A notice of him, by his fon, the 
eminent lawyer, who died in 18 16, may 
be found in the Monthly Anthology for 
1 8 10. Mr. Dexter, the elder, was the 
founder of the Dexter Ledlurefhip of Bib- 
lical Literature in Harvard College. At 
the time when he figned the commiftion 
of Colonel Prefcott, he was a member of 
the Provincial Congrefs. Colonel Prefcott, 
it fhould be noted, ferved as colonel before 






The Prescott Family. 



On the 19th of April, 1775, within an hour after the news reached him of 
the fkirmifhes at Lexington and Concord, he hurried to Groton, and, collecting 
as many of his men as he could mufter, and leaving orders for the reft to 
follow, marched to Cambridge, hoping to overtake the Britifh troops, then in 
full retreat towards Bofton. This, however, was impoflible. But a force, full 
of the active and devoted fpirit of the time, was rapidlv collected at Cambridge, 
under the command of General Artemas Ward. By his orders, Colonel Prefcott 
was defpatched on the evening of June the 16th, with about a thoufand men, to 
Charleftown, where, in the courfe of the night, he threw up a redoubt on Bun- 
ker's Hill, — or to fpeak more accurately on Breed's Hill, — and fought there, 
the next day, the firft real battle of the Revolution, manfullv putting in peril 
that reputation, which, to a foldier, is dearer than life, and which, if the caufe 
he then efpoufed had failed, would have left his own name and that of his de- 
fcendants blackened with the charge of rebellion. But things did not fo turn 
out. He was, indeed, defeated, — mainly for want of ammunition, — and 
driven from the hill, which he was among the laft to leave. A brave refiftance, 
however, had been made, and the defeat had many of the refults of a victory. 
When Wafhington heard of it, he exclaimed, "The liberties of the country are 
fafe";5 and Franklin wrote, "England has loft her Colonies forever." 6 

Colonel Prefcott continued in the army until the end of 1776,7 when, on the 
retirement of the American troops from Long Ifland, the excellent manner in 
which he brought off his regiment was publicly commended by General Wafhing- 
ton. But from this period until his death, except during the autumn of 1777, 
when, as a volunteer with a few of his former brother-officers, he aflifted in the 
capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga, he refided on his farm in Pepperell. He did 
not, however, withdraw himfelf entirely from public affairs. He ferved as a 
Reprefentative in the Legiflature of Maffachufetts, and when the formidable 
infurre£tion known as "Shays's Rebellion" broke out in his own count) oi 
Middlefex, he haftened to Concord and aflifted in protecting the courts of 
juftice, and in preferving law and order. He died on the 13th of October, 
1795, and was buried with the militarv honors becoming his life and character. 
His widow, an admirable perfon, full of gentlcnefs and dignity, furvived him 
many years, and died in 1821, at the advanced age of eighty-eight. 

They had but one child, William, who was born on his father's farm, Auguft 
the 19th, 1762, and lived there, in great fimplicity, until 1776. His early education 
was entirely due to his mother, for whom he always felt a deep reverence, ami 
of whom, late in his own life, he faid : "She was more remarkable, than an) one 
I have ever known, for her power of governing children and young people, and 
that without any aufterity in her manner. They all refpected, lo\ ed, and obe) ed 



453 



he took the oath, namely, as early as the 
month of April. 

5 Irving's " Life of Wafhington" (1855), 
Vol. I. p. 488. 

6 The laft words of Vol.VlI.of Bancroft \ 
" Hiflory of the United States " (1858). 



: I lis commiflion in the army of "The 
United Colonies," figned by John Han- 
cock, Prefident, and Charles Thomfon, 
Secretary, is dated January 1, 1776, and 
conftitutes him Colonel of the "Seventh 
Regiment of Foot." 



Appendix A. 

Battle at Lexing- 
ton. 



Battle of Bun- 
ker", Hill. 



Returns to IVp- 
perell. 



His death. 



Willi an 
cott, father 
1. 1 the hifto 
run. 



454 



Appendix A, 



Early training. 



Independence of 
character. 



Keeps fchool. 



Invited to Gen- 
eral Warning- 
ton's houfe- 
hold. 



PracYifes law in 
Beverly and 
Salem. 



Appendix. 



her. Her kindnefs won their hearts. I feel that I am indebted to her wife and 
affectionate government and guidance of my childhood and youth, — her dailv 
counfels and instructions, — for whatever character and fuccefs I may have had in 
life." Confidering what Mr. Prefcott had become when he wrote thefe words, 
a more beautiful tribute could hardly have been paid to womanly tendernefs and 
wifdom. 

But, at the age of fourteen, he was placed under the inftruction of tc Mailer 
Moody," of Dummer Academy, in EfTex County, then known as the beft teacher 
of Latin and Greek in New England, and — what was of no lefs confequence 
to his pupils — wholly devoted to his duties, which he loved paffionately. 
Nearly three years of careful training under fuch an inftructor almoft changed 
the boy to a man, and four years more at Harvard College, where he was grad- 
uated in 1783, completed the transformation. 

But as he approached manhood, he felt the refponfibilities of life already 
crowding upon him. The firft of thefe, and probably the one that prefTed 
heavieft upon his thoughts, was the idea that, for the feven preceding years, he 
had been a burden upon the fmall means of his father, when he might rather 
have been a relief. This ftate of things he determined at once mould no 
longer continue, and, from that moment, he never received any pecuniary aflift- 
ance from his family. On the contrary, after the death of his father, whofe 
life, like that of moll military men of his time, had been one of generous hofpi- 
tality, rather than of thrift, he affumed the debts with which the eftate had be- 
come encumbered, and, for above a quarter of a century, made the moft ample 
and affectionate arrangements for the fupport of his much-loved mother, who 
thus died in peace and happinefs on the fpot where me had lived above fixty 
years. 

His earlieft refource, when he began the world for himfelf, was one then com- 
mon among us, and ftill not very rare, for young men who have left college 
without the means necefTary to continue their education further. He became 
a teacher. At firft, it was for a few months only, in Brooklyn, Connecticut ; 
but afterwards for two years in Beverly, MafTachufetts. Here he lived very hap- 
pily in a cultivated fociety, and here he ftudied his profeilion under Mr. Dane, 
a learned jurift and ftatefman, who afterwards founded the Law ProfeiTbrfhip in 
Harvard College that bears his name. During this period Mr. Prefcott received 
an invitation to become a member of General Washington's houfehold, where, 
while purfuing his legal ftudies, he would have acted as the private tutor of 
a youthful member of the family, to whom its great head was much attached. 
But the young law-ftudent declined the offer, in confequence of his previous 
engagements, and his college clafTmate, Lear, took the coveted place. 

Mr. Prefcott began the practice of his profeilion in Beverly ; but, at the end 
of two years, in 1789, finding the field there not wide enough for his purpofes, 
he removed to the adjacent town of Salem, the mire town of the countv, and 
the feat of much profperous activity. His fuccefs, from the firft, was marked 
and honorable, and it continued fuch fo long as he remained there. During 
a part of the time, he entered a little, but only a little, into political life, ferving 
fucceflively as a Reprefentative of Salem and as a Senator for the county of 



The Prescott Family. 



45 5 



Declines a judgc- 
ihip. 



His infirm 
health. 



Rem. 
Bofti-n. 



EfTex in the Legiflature of the State. Bat, although he took no felhfh intereft in Append 
the fuccefs of anv party, he maintained then, as he did till his death, the opinions 
of the Federalifts, who received their name from an earlv and faithful fupport of Po1 
the Federal Conftitution, and who fubfequently devoted themielves to fuftaining 
the policy and meafures of Wafhington during his civil adminiftration of the affairs 
of the country. In truth, however, while Mr. Prefcott lived in Salem, he gave 
himfelf up almoft exclufively to his profeflion, in which his talents, his integrity, 
and his induftry gained for him fo high a rank, that, as early as 1806, he was 
offered a feat on the bench of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth ; an 
offer repeated with much urgency in 18 13, but one which, on both occafions, 
he declined, partlv from the ftate of his family, but chiefly from confiderations 
connected with his health. His refufal occafioned no little regret, for it was 
a place to which he was admirably adapted by the judicial character of his mind, 
by his moral courage, and by a fingular power he had of holding any fubject 
under advifement until the laft moment, and then deciding it as promptly and 
firmly as if he had never hefitated. 

But from 1803, when he ruptured a bloodveffel in his lungs, and was com- 
pelled, in confequence, to give up all fevere occupation for many months, he 
was never an active or vigorous man. To relieve himfelf, therefore, from 
a kind of bufinefs which was quite as onerous as it was profitable, and which 
made his life in Salem more burdenfome than he could well bear, he determined, 
in 1808, to remove to Bofton. He did fo, however, with reluctance. He had 
many kind friends in Salem, to whom he and his family were fincerely attached. 
He had palled there nineteen years of great profemonal ufefulnefs, enjoying the 
refpecf of a very intelligent and thriving community. He had been happy 
much beyond the common lot, and he was by no means without mifgivin 
the thought of a change fo important and decifive. 

His removal, however, proved fortunate beyond his hopes. His profeffional 
bufinefs in Bofton, while it was lefs oppremvc than his bufinefs in Salem had 
been, infured him immediately an increafed and ample income. Into public 
affairs he entered little, and only fo far as his duty plainly required; for political 
life was never agreeable to him, and, befides this, it interfered with his profef- 
fional labors and the domeftic repofe he always loved and needed. But from 
1809 he ferved for a few years in the Council of the Commonwealth, under 
Governor Gore and Governor Strong, and enjoyed all the confidence of thofe 
eminent and faithful magiftrates, as they enjoyed all his. In 1814 he was 
elefted, by the Legiflature of Maffachufetts, to be one of the delegates to the 
Convention which, in that year, met at Hartford, in Connecticut, to confider tin- 
condition of the New England States, expofed and neglefted as the) were b) 
the general government, during the war then carrying on againfl Great Britain. 
It was inconvenient and difagreeable to him to accept the office. But 
no doubt that he ought to do it. Nor did lie ever afterwards regret it, 
do juftice to the honorable and high-minded men who were 
him in its duties. 

He went to that remarkable Convention, fearing, unqueftionably, fron 
great excitement which then prevailed throughout New England on the fi 



A. 



11 s 



Member of ihc 
Htrtl I 
vendor*. 



or tail to 
affociated with 



Judge of the 
Common 
Pleas. 



Member of the 
Convention 
for revifing 
the Constitu- 
tion of MafTa- 
chufetts. 



456 



Appendix A, 

His opinion of 
the Conven- 
tion. 



Retires from the 
bar. 



His happy old 
age. 



of the war, that rafh meafures, tending to affecT: the integrity of the Union, 
might be fuggefted. But he was prefent through the whole feffion, and found 
his apprehenfions entirely groundlefs. " No fuch meafure," he faid, " was ever 
propofed in the Convention, nor was there," in his opinion deliberately recorded 
long afterwards, " a member of that body who would have confented to any 
act, which, in his judgment, would have tended directly or indirectly to deftroy 
or impair the union of the States." If there was ever a man loyal to the con- 
ftitution and laws under which he lived, it was Mr. Prefcott \ nor did he 
deem any one of his afTociates at Hartford, in this refpect, lefs faithful than 
himfelf. 

In 1 8 18 he was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 
City of Bofton, and accepted the office, thinking to hold it fo as to facilitate 
his retirement from the practice of his profeflion. But he found it more 
laborious and engroffing than he had anticipated, and refigned it at the end 
of a year. 

In 1820 — 21 he ferved as a delegate from the city of Bofton to the Conven- 
tion for revifing the Conftitution of the Commonwealth of MafTachufetts, and, 
on its firft organization, was made chairman of the committee charged with the 
moft difficult and perplexing fubject that was fubmitted to that body for difcuf- 
fion and decifion, — the reprefentation of the people in their own government. 
It was not an enviable poft, but, by his wifdom and moderation, by an energy and 
a firmnefs that were ftill always conciliating, and by a power of perfuafion that 
refted on truth, he at laft led the Convention to a decifion, although, at one criti- 
cal moment, it had feemed impoffible to decide anything. The members of that 
body, therefore, as diftinguiihed for talent and for perfonal character as any that 
was ever aflembled in MafTachufetts, always felt — even thofe who had differed 
from him — that they and the Commonwealth were under lafting obligations to 
his wifdom and integrity. 

He continued at the bar until 1828, making in all above forty years of 
fervice to the law. During more than half of that time his practice was as ex- 
tenfive, as honorable, and as fuccefsful as that of anv member of the profeflion 
in the State, which, while he belonged to it, numbered in its ranks fuch men as 
Sullivan, Parfons, Dexter, Otis, and Webfter, all of whom, except the laft, 
ceafed to be members of the bar before he did. During the whole of his pro- 
feffional life he enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the kindly regard and fincere 
refpecl: of his brethren, and of the different members of the courts before which 
he was called to practife, no one of whom ever, for a moment, imagined that 
any fpot had fallen on the abfolute purity and integrity of his character. Of 
his diftinction as a jurift there was as little doubt. Mr. Daniel Webfter, when, 
with much fenfibility, he announced Mr. Prefcott's death to the Supreme Court, 
then in feffion at Bofton, well faid of him, that " at the moment of his retire- 
ment from the bar of MafTachufetts he flood at its head for legal learning and 
attainments." 

The laft fixteen years of his life were fpent in the quietnefs of his home, 
where his original nature, difencumbered of the cares that had opprefTed him 
during a very bufy life, feemed to come forth with the frefhnefs of youth. He 



The Prescott Family. 



457 



Enjoyment of 

the fui 
his (on. 



Paralytic affec- 
tion. 



read a great deal, efpecially on fubje£ts connected with religion, ethics, meta- Apr 
phyfics, and hiftory, — all of them fciences of which he never tired. Agri- 
culture, too, the occupation of fome of his earlier days, had great charms for 
him ; and he fhowed no little fkill in cultivating the eftate on which he was 
born, and where, during much of his life, and efpecially the latter part of it, he 
fpent a happy portion of each year. But whether in the city, or at Pepperell, 
or on the fea-fhore at Nahant, where, during many feafons, he palled the 
hotteft weeks of our hot fummers, he loved to be furrounded by his family, — 
his children and his grandchildren ; and with them and among his private 
friends, he found in his declining years what, in the intervals of leifure during 
his whole life, he had moft enjoyed and valued. 

It was in this happy retirement that there broke in upon him the light which 
fo gilded the mild evening of his days, — the fuccefs of his fon as an hiftorian, 
fhedding new diftindiion on a name already dear to his country, and carrying that 
name far beyond the limits of the language fpoken by all who had borne it 
before him. Mr. Prefcott in the innermoft circle of his friends never difguifed 
the happinefs his fon's reputation gave him, although certainly, from the inltinc- 
tive modefty of his nature, nothing could be more graceful than the way in 
which he exprefTed it. 

But there is an end to everything earthly. In the autumn of 1843, wmi( -' at 
his old home in Pepperell, 8 he had a flight attack of paralyfis. He recovered 
from it, however, eafily, and, except to the ever-watchful eves ot arlection, 
feemed fully reftored to his wonted health. But he himfelf underftood the 
warning, and lived, though cheerfully and with much enjoyment of life, yet as 
one who never forgot that his time muft be fhort, and that his fummons could 
hardly fail to be fudden. In the laft days of November, 1844, he felt himfelf 
flightly incommoded, — not, as before, in the head, but in the region of the 
heart. As late, however, as the evening before his death, no change was noticed 
in his appearance when he retired to bed, nor is it probable that, after a night 
of his ufual comfortable reft, he noticed any change in himfelf when he rofe the 
next morning. At any rate, he went, as was his cuftom, quietly and directly to 
his library. But he had hardly reached it, when he perceived that the meflenger 
of death was at his fide. He therefore denied the faithful attendant, who had 
for many years been attached to his perfon, not to leave him, and a few moments 
afterwards, furrounded by the family he fo much loved, in the tull pofleffion of 
his faculties, and with a peaceful truft in his Maker and in the bleflednefs <>t a 
future life, he expired without a ftruggle. It was Sunday, December the 8th, Death. 
1844, and on the following Wednefday he was buried in the crypt oi St. Paul's 
Church. 

While he was a young lawyer in Salem, Mr. Prefcott was married, I) 
18th, 1793, to Catherine Greene Hickling, daughter of Thomas Hickling, Efq., 
earlier a merchant of Bofton, but then, and fubfequently until his death at the 
age of ninety-one, Conful of the United States in the ifland of St, Michael. 
It was a connection full of bleffing to him and to his houfe during the fifty-one 



ecember NI '' 

in.. tli 

hiftorian. 



58 



mte t p. 203. 



45 8 



Appendix A 



Children of Mr. 
and Mrs. Pref- 
cott. 



lElizabethDexter 



FranklinDexter. 



Edward Gordon 
Prefcott. 



Appendix. 



years that it pleafed God to permit it to be continued. Few women have done 
more to relieve their hufbands from the cares of life, and to bear for them even 
a difproportionate fhare of its burdens. Still fewer have, at the fame time, made 
their influence felt abroad through fociety, as fhe did. But me was full of 
energy and activity, of health, cheerfulnefs, and the love of doing good. Prob- 
ably no woman, in the pofition fhe occupied among us, ever gave her thoughts, 
her converfation, and her life in fo remarkable a degree to the welfare of others. 
When, therefore, fhe died, May 17th, 1852, nearly eighty-five years old, it is 
not too much to fay that her death was mourned as a public lofs.9 

Mr. and Mrs. Prefcott had feven children, all of whom were born to them in 
Salem, between 1795 and 1806, but four died without reaching the age of a 
fingle year. 

Of the other three the eldeft was the hiftorian. 

The next was Catharine Elizabeth, who frill furvives (1862). She was born 
November 12th, 1779, and was married September 28th, 1819, to Franklin Dex- 
ter, fon of Samuel Dexter, the eminent lawyer and ftatefman. Mr. Franklin Dex- 
ter was born in 1793, and, after a careful academical and profeffional education, 
and a vifit to the moft interefting and cultivated portions of Europe, eftablifhed 
himfelf as a lawyer in Bofton. He rofe earlv to diftin£tion at the bar, and by his 
courage, his quicknefs of perception, his acute and manly logic, and an intellect- 
ual grafp which the ftrongeft could not efcape, he vindicated for himfelf a place 
in the front rank of a company of eminent men, fuch as New England had 
never before feen collected. But his taftes and his preferences led him into paths 
widely different from theirs. His mind turned inftin&ively to what was refined 
and beautiful. He loved letters more than law, and art more than letters ; fo that, 
perhaps without deliberately intending it, he always fought much of his happinefs 
in both, and found it. When, therefore, he had reached an age at which, with 
a constitution of only moderate vigor, repofe became delirable, and had obtained 
a fortune equal to the wants of one who never over-eftimated the worth of what 
the world moft defires, he gave himfelf more and more to the happinefs of 
domeftic life and to the purfuit of art, towards which, from an early period, he 
had — and perhaps rightly — thought his genius more inclined than to any 
other. But life was not long protracted. He died in 1857, leaving behind him 
in the minds of his contemporaries a perfuafion, that, if his fevere tafte in what 
related even to his favorite purfuits, and the faftidious acutenefs with which he 
looked quite through the ways of men, and detected the low motives which often 
lead to power, had not checked him in mid-career, he might have rifen to an 
eminence where he would have left behind him not a few of the rivals to 
whom, during the active years of his life, he had willingly yielded the honors of 
fuccefs. 

The only brother of the hiftorian who lived beyond infancy was Edward Gor- 
don, who was born at Salem, January the 2d, 1804. At a fuitable age, after the 
removal of his father to Bofton, he was fent to the fame fchool in which his elder 
brother had laid the foundation for his diftincliion. But his tendencies were not 



See ante, p. 383. 



The Prescott Family. 



459 



then towards intellectual culture, and, at his own earneft defire, he was placed in 

a counting-houfe, that he might devote himfelf to mercantile purfuits. A tafte 

for letters was, however, fomewhat to his own furprife, awakened in him a little 

| later; and, with fudden but earneft efforts to recover the time that had been loft, 

i he fucceeded in obtaining a degree at Harvard College in 1825. Subfequently, 

I he ftudied law with his father, under the moft favorable circumftances ; and after 

J 1828, when he began the practice of his profeilion, he not only took his fair 

', (hare of the bufinefs of the time, but, as fo many of his family before him had 

done, he ferved the Commonwealth both in its Legiflature and in its military 

I organization, riling to the rank of colonel in the militia. This feemed for 

I a time to fatisfv a nature too eager for excitement and diftinction. But after 

feven years of great activity, a change came over him. He was grown weary 

of a bufy, buftling life, full of temptations which he had not always effectually 

refilled. His religious convictions, which from his youth had been ftrong, if 

not conftant, now became paramount. He was pained that he had not better 

obeved them, and, after many ftruggles, he refolutely determined to give himfelf 

up to them entirely. And he did it. He began at once a courfe of regular 

ftudies for the miniftrv, and in 1837 was fettled as an Epifcopalian clergyman in 

a retired parilh of New Jerfey, where he devoted himfelf earneftly to the duties 

he had alTumed. But his labors were fevere, and his health failed under them ; 

llowlv, indeed, but regularly. Still, no anxiety was felt for the refult ; and when 

he determined to vifit the Azores, where feveral of his mother's familv, as we 

have feen, had long refided, he embarked with every promife that the mild 

climate of thofe Fortunate Ifles would reftore the impaired forces of his 

phyfical conftitution, and permit him foon to refume the duties he loved. But, 

on the fecond day out, a fudden attack — perhaps apoplectic and certainly one of 

which there had been no warning fymptom — broke down his ftrength at once, 

! and early the next morning, April nth, 1844, he died without a movement of 

I his perfon, like one falling alleep, his watch held gently in his hand, as if he 

had juft been noting the hour. 

After his fettlement as a clergyman in New Jerfey, he was married to an 
excellent and devoted wife, who furvived him only a few years, but they had no 
children. 

William Hickling Prefcott, the hiftorian, as it has already been recorded, has 
three furviving children, viz. : — 

1. William Gardiner Prefcott, born January 27, 1826, and named after his 
father's friend, William Howard Gardiner, Efq. He was married, No- 
vember 6, 1 85 1, to Augufta, daughter of Jofeph Auguftus Peabody, Efq., 
of Salem, and they have four children, — 

Edith, born April 20, 1853, 
William Hickling, born February 22, 1855, 
Linzee, born November 27, 1859, 
Louifa, born February 19, 1863. 

2. Elizabeth, born July 27, 1828, and married, March 16, 1852, to James 
Lawrence, Efq., fon of the late Hon. Abbott Lawrence, Minifter of the 



Appendix A 



Descendants of 
William 
Hickling 
Prefcott. 



460 



Appendix A, 



Appendix. 



United States at the Court of St. James from 1849 to J ^53- They have 
three children, — 

James, born March 23, 1853, 

Gertrude, born February 19, 1855, 

Prefcott, born January 17, 1861. 
William Amory, born January 25, 1830, and named after his mother's 
brother and his father's friend, William Amory, Efq. He is unmarried 
(1862). 




APPENDIX B 



THE CROSSED SWORDS. 

(See page 54.) 

COLONEL WILLIAM PRESCOTT, the grandfather of the hiftorian, 
died, as has been mentioned, in 1795. Captain John Linzee, grandfather 
of the hiftorian's wife, was born at Portfmouth, England, in 1743, but, eftablifh- 
i ing himfelf in the United States after the war of the Revolution was over, died 
at Milton, near Bofton, in 1798. In procefs of time, the fwords of thefe two 
oppofing commanders came by tranfmiffion and inheritance to the hiftorian, and 
were by him arranged, firft over one of the bookcafes in his quiet ftudy in Bed- 
ford Street, and afterwards on the cornice of his library in Beacon Street. In 
either place the fight was a ftriking one, and generally attracted the attention 
of ftrangers. Mr. Thackeray, whofe vigilant eye did not fail to notice it when 
he vifited Mr. Prefcott in 1852, thus alludes to it very happily in the opening of 
his "Virginians," publimed fix years later: 

" On the library-wall of one of the moft famous writers of America there 
hang two crofted fwords, which his relatives wore in the great war of Indepen- 
dence. The one fword was gallantly drawn in the fervice of the king, the other 
was the weapon of a brave and honored republican foldier. The pofleffor of 
the harmlefs trophy has earned for himfelf a name alike honored in his an- 
ceftors' country and in his own, where genius like his has always a peaceful 
welcome." 

By the thirteenth article of Mr. Prefcott's will he provided for the difpofition 
of thefe fwords as follows : 

" The fword which belonged to my grandfather, Colonel William Prefcott, 
worn by him in the battle of Bunker Hill, I give to the Maftachufetts Hiftorical 
Society, as a curiofity fuitable to be preferved among their collections ; and the 
fword which belonged to my wife's grandfather, Captain Linzee, of the Britifh 
Royal Navy, who commanded one of the enemy's fhips lying off Charleftown 
during the fame battle, I give to my wife." 

As Mrs. Prefcott, and the other heirs of Captain Linzee, defired that the 
fwords fhould not be feparated, Mr. Gardiner, who was Mr. Prefcott's executor, 
fent them both to the Hiftorical Society, accompanied by an interefting letter 
addreiTed to the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, its Prefident, and to be found, dated 
April 19th, 1859, m t ^ ie volume of the "Proceedings" of that Society publimed 
in i860, pp. 258-264. 

Refolutions offered by Mr. Winthrop were unanimoufly adopted, directing 
the fwords to be arranged in a confpicuous place in the halls of the Society, 



461 



Appendix B. 

Colonel William 
Prefcott and 
Captain John 
Linzee. 



Mr. Prefcott's 
will. 



Proceedings of 
the Hiftorical 
Society. 



462 

Appendix B. 

The Croffed 
Swords." 



Poem of Rev. 
Dr. Frothing- 
ham. 



Appendix. 



crofting each other, as they had been croffed in Mr. Prefcott's library, and with 
fuitable infcriptions fetting forth their hiftory and the circumftances of their 
reception. 

A tablet of black-walnut was, therefore, prepared, to which they now ftand 
attached, croffed through a carved wreath of olive-leaves ; while over them are 
two fhields, leaning againft each other, and bearing refpe&ively the Prefcott and 
the Linzee arms. 



On the right, next to the hilt of 
Colonel Prefcott's fword, is the follow- 
ing infcription : — 

The fword 

of 

COLONEL WILLIAM PRESCOTT, 

worn by him 

while in command of the 

Provincial forces 

at the 

Battle of Bunker Hill, 

17 June, 1775, 

and 

bequeathed to the 

MafTachufetts Hiftorical Society 

by his grandfon 

William H. Prescott. 



On the left, next to the hilt of 
Captain Linzee's fword, is the follow- 
ing infcription : — 

The fword 

of 

CAPTAIN JOHN LINZEE, R. N., 

who commanded the 

Britifh floop-of-war " Falcon " 

while adling againft the Americans 

during the Battle of Bunker Hill, 

prefented to the 

MaiTachufetts Hiftorical Society, 

14 April, 1859, 

by his grandchildren 

Thomas C. A. Linzee 

and 

Mrs. William H. Prescott. 



On two feparate fcrolls is the following infcription : 



Thefe fwords 

for many years were hung crofted 

in the library 

of the late eminent hiftorian 

WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT, 

in token of 

international friendfhip 

and 

family alliance. 



They 

are now preferved 

in a fimilar pofition 

by the 

MASS. HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

in memory 

of the aftbciations 

with which they will be 

infeparably connected. 



On the evening of Thurfday, April 28, 1859, at a meeting of the Society, held 
at the houfe of its Prefident, the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, the Rev. Dr. N. 
L. Frothingham — who, at the fpecial meeting of the Society, called together 
by the death of the hiftorian, had in apt and beautiful words offered an affec- 
tionate tribute to the character of his friend and parifhioner — read the follow- 
ing lines, which, in words no lefs apt and touching, give the poetical interpre- 
tation of 



The Crossed Swords. 



THE CROSSED SWORDS. 

Swords crofTed, — but not in flrife ! 
The chiefs who drew them, parted by the fpace 
Of two proud countries' quarrel, face to face 

Ne'er flood for death or life. 

Swords crofTed, that never met 
While nerve was in the hands that wielded them ; 
Hands better deftined a fair family ftem 

On thefe free fhores to fet. 

Kept crofTed by gentlefl bands ! 
Emblems no more of battle, but of peace ; 
And proof how loves can grow and wars can ceafe, 

Their once flern fymbol Hands. 

It fmiled firfl on the array 
Of marfhalled books and friendliefl companies ; 
And here, a hiflorv among hiftories, 

It Mill fhall fmile for aye. 

See that thou memory keep, 
Of him the firm commander ; and that other, 
The flainlefs judge; and him our peerlefs brother, - 

All fallen now afleep. 

Yet more : a lefTon teach, 
To cheer the patriot-foldier in his courfe, 
That Right fhall triumph flill o'er infolent Force : 

That be your filent fpeech. 

Oh, be prophetic too ! 
And may thofe nations twain, as fign and feal 
Of endlefs amity, hang up their fleel, 

As we thefe weapons do ! 

The archives of the Part, 
So fmeared with blots of hate and bloody wrong, 
Pining for peace, and fick to wait fo long, 

Hail this meek crofs at lafl. 



And fo was fitly clofed up the hiftory of this fingular trophy, if trophy that 
can be called which was won from no enemy, and which is a memento at once 
of a defeat that was full of glorv, and of triumphs in the field of letters more 
brilliant than thofe in the fields of war. 



4 6 3 

Appendix B. 

" The CrofTed 
Swords," by 
Dr. Frothing- 
ham. 



4 6 4 



Appendix C. 

Firft acquaint- 
ance with Mr. 
Prefcott. 



Literary hiftory. 



Regularity of 
his life. 



APPENDIX C. 

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER ADDRESSED BY MR. EDMUND B. OTIS, 
FORMERLY MR. PRESCOTT'S SECRETARY, TO MR. TICKNOR. 



(See p. 232, note.) 



My dear Sir. 



Bofton, June 4th, 1859. 



I well recollect the firft interview I had with the author of " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella." I vifited him at his library in his father's houfe in Bedford Street, 
where he refided in the fummer of 1841. I had previously read his Hiftory, 
and had copied, when a Sophomore, feveral of the clofing chapters of the work, 
by way of a voluntary rhetorical exercife, as I admired the purity and beauty of 
his ftyle, little thinking, at the time, that it would be my fate to copy feveral 
volumes of his fubfequent compofitions. I had heard that he was blind; and, 
from the nature and amount of his hiftorical lore, I had expected to fee an old 
gentleman, fomewhat the worfe for wear. My furprife was very great when 
I was greeted by a tall, handfome man, in the prime of life, who did not appear 
to me over thirty years of age, although at that time he muft have been about 
forty-five. He feemed amufed at the furprife, which I did not probably entirely 
conceal, and afked me if I had not expected to find him halt, lame, and maimed, 
as well as blind. 

He was more ftrongly attracted, he told me, to civil than to literary hiftory, 
as his audience would be fo much larger ; — the literary hiftorian, necefTarily, in 
a great meafure, addrefling himfelf to fcholars, who may alone be fuppofed to be 
deeply interefted in his fubject, and who alone are competent to decide upon his 
merit, while the civil hiftorian has the world for his audience, and may intereft 
every man who has civil or religious rights and liberties to ftudy and defend. 
This was the fubftance of the firft converfation I ever had with Mr. Prefcott, 
though, at this diftance of time, I do not attempt to report his exact lan- 
guage. 

Although he enjoyed the variety of a fea-fhore, country, and city life, there 
was a uniformity, regularity, and order in his mode and habit of living, that 
I have never feen equalled by any other man. One day was very much the 
counterpart of another; and I fometimes thought that he had reduced life to 
fuch a fyftem, and regulated his every action fo much by rule, that there was 
danger of merging volition in a mechanical, clock-work exiftence, and lofing 
liberty in the race for knowledge and fame. 



Letter of Mr. Otis, 



465 



This regularity and uniformity of life were undoubtedly neceffarv for the Appendix C. 
preferyation of his health, and the performance of his felf-impofed literary Letter of Mr. 

talks Edmund B. 

Otis. 

Mr. Prefcott has giyen fome account, in the Preface to his " Hiftory of the Modes of work. 
Conqueft of Peru," and, I belieye, in the Prefaces to his other works, of the 
nature and degree of his impaired vifion, of his ufe of a myograph or writing- 
cafe for the blind, and of the general duties of his fecretary, with all of which 
you muft be familiar ; but perhaps it may not be without intereft, if I giye 
from memory a brief fketch of his mode of writing a chapter of hiftory. 

It was the habit of Mr. Prefcott, as you are aware, to ftudy the grand out- Makes outlines 



of his fub- 
jedts. 



lines of his fubject, and to plan the general arrangement and proportions of his 
work, — claffifying the yarious topics he would have to treat, and diyiding them 
into books and chapters, — before ftudying them clofely in detail, when prepar- 
ing to compofe a chapter. When he had decided upon the fubjecl: to be dif- 
cuffed, or eyents to be related in a particular chapter, he carefully read all that 
portion of his authorities, in print and manufcript, bearing on the fubject of the 
chapter in hand, ufing tables of contents and indices, and taking copious notes Notes. 
of each authority as he read, marking the volume and page of each ftatement 
for future reference. Thefe notes I copied in a large, legible hand, fo that, at 
times, he could read them, though more frequently I read them aloud to him, 
until he had impreffed them completely on his memory. After this had been 
accomplifhed, he would occupy feveral days in filentlv digefting this mental prov- 
ender, balancing the conflicting teftimony of authorities, arranging the details 
of his narrative, felecting his ornaments, rounding his periods, and moulding the 

I whole chapter in his mind, as an orator might prepare his fpeech. Many of his 
beft battle-fcenes, he told me, he had compofed while on horfeback. His vivid 

I imagination carried him back to the fixteenth century, and he almoft felt him- 

' felf a Caftilian knight, charging with Cortes, Sandoval, and Alvarado on the 

; Aztec foe. 

When he had fully prepared his chapter in his mind, he began to dafh it off ^ rlt 
with rapidity by the ufe of his writing-cafe. As he did not fee his paper when 



Mental compofi- 
tion. 



he wrote, he fometimes wrote twice over the fame lines, which did not have 
a tendency to render them more legible. His ufual fluency of compofition was 
fometimes interrupted, not by a dearth, but by too great copioufnefs of expref- 
fion, feveral fvnonymous phrafes or parallel forms of fpeech prefenting them- 
felves at once. All thefe he wrote down, one after the other, in duplicate, to be 
weighed and criticifed at leifure, not waiting to fettle the difficulty at the time, 
fearing that by delay he might lofe the eafe of ftyle which ufuallv accompanies 
rapidity of compofition. When beginning to defcribe a battle, he would often, 
to roufe his military enthufiafm, as he faid, hum to himfelf his favorite air, " O 
give me but my Arab freed," <5cc. 

As the meets were ftricken off, I deciphered them, and was ready to read them 
to him when he had finifhed the chapter. He was as cautious in correction as 
he was rapid in writing. Each word and fentence was carefully weighed, and 
59 ^ 



by his nodo- 
graph. 



Corrected. 



4 66 



Appendix C, 
Letter of Mr. 

Edmund B. 

Otis. 



Copied. 



Final 



Love of his 
books. 



Appendix. 



fubje&ed to the clofeft analyfis. If found wanting in ftrength or beauty, it was 
changed and turned until the exacl: expreffion required was found, when he dic- 
tated the correction, which was made by me on his manufcript. He allowed 
nothing to remain, however beautiful in itfelf, which he did not think added to 
the beauty and ftrength of the whole. He hated fine writing, merely as fine 
writing. I have known him mercileffly to ftrike out feveral pages of beautiful 
imagery, which he believed on reflection had a tendency rather to weaken than 
enhance the efFecl: he defired to produce. 

After the chapter had been thus carefully corrected, I copied it in a large, 
heavy, pike-ftafF hand, that thofe who run might read. I had to acquire the 
hand for the occafion, and my practice in that line may account for my prefent 
legible, but fomewhat inelegant chirography. When the chapter was copied in 
this large hand, Mr. Prefcott re-perufed and re-corre&ed it. He then read again 
my copy of the original notes that he had taken from the authorities on which 
he founded his chapter, and from them prepared the remarks, quotations, and 
references found in his foot-notes, which were alfo ufually rapidly ftricken off 
with his writing-cafe, and copied by me in the fame large, legible hand with the 
text. This copy was again and again carefully fcrutinized and corrected by 
himfelf. 

Mr. Prefcott believed that an hiftorian could not be too careful in guarding 
againft inaccuracies. I recollect that, when he had finifhed the ct Hiftory of the 
Conqueft of Mexico," the whole manufcript was fubmitted to yourfelf for criti- 
cal fuggeftions and corrections, the value of which he acknowledges in his 
Preface. When the manufcript was fent to prefs, before the plates were ftereo- 
typed, the printed meets were fent to the author, for his final corrections, befides 
being fubjecl:ed to the careful infpection of Mr. Nichols, the corrector of the 
Cambridge prefs, and to the fharp eye of Mr. Charles Folfom, whofe critical 
acumen Mr. Prefcott fully appreciated. 

Mr. Prefcott loved his books almoft as he loved his children \ he liked to fee 
them well drefled, in rich, fubftantial bindings, and if one, by any accident, 
was dropped, "it annoved him," he faid jeftingly, " almoft as much as if a 
baby fell." 






467 




APPENDIX D. 






LITERARY HONORS. 






(See p. 240, note.) 




F 


.OM the time when, in 1838, Mr. Prefcott's reputation " burft out into 


Appendix D. 


fudden blaze," literary honors of all kinds awaited him in profufion, both 


Literary honors. 


at home and abroad. I will give here a lift of the more confiderable of them in 




the order of time. 




1838. 


MafTachufetts Hiftorical Society, Bofton. 
American Philofophical Society, Philadelphia. 
Rhode Hand Hiftorical Society, Providence. 




1839. 


Royal Academy of Hiftory, Madrid. 

Roval Academy of Sciences, Naples. 

American Antiquarian Society, Worcefter, Mafs. 

New York Hiftorical Society, New York city. 

Georgia Hiftorical Society, Savannah. 

New Hampfhire Hiftorical Society, Concord. 




1840. 


American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bofton. 
Literary and Hiftorical Society of Quebec. 




1841. 


Herculaneum Academy, Naples. 

Doctor of Laws, Columbia College, South Carolina. 




1842. 


Kentucky Hiftorical Society, Louifville. 




1843- 


Doctor of Laws, Harvard College, MafTachufetts. 
Indiana Hiftorical Society, Indianapolis. 




1844. 


Maryland Hiftorical Society, Baltimore. 
National Inftitute, Wafhington, D. C. 




1845. 


French Inftitute, Academy of Moral Sciences, Paris. 
Royal Society of Berlin. 




1846. 


New Jerfey Hiftorical Society, Princeton. 




1847. 


Royal Society of Literature, London. 

New England Hiftoric-Genealogical Society, Bofton. 




1848. 


Do&or of Laws, Columbian College, Washington, D. C. 




1850. 


Doctor of Civil Law, Oxford, England. 




1851. 


Mexican Society of Geography and Statiftics, Mexico. 




1852. 


Royal Irifh Academy, Dublin. 




1854. 


Wifconfin Hiftorical Society, Madifon. 




1856. 


Hiftorical Society of Florida, St. Auguftine. 
Hiftorical Society of Iowa, Burlington. 




1857. 


Hiftorical Society of Tenneflee, Nafhville. 





4 68 



Appendix D. 

Literary honors. 



Apfteitdix. 



He received the honors of membermip from feveral focieties of young men 
in different parts of the country, two or three of which, like a debating-fociety 
at Cambridge, a literary aflbciation at Philadelphia, and one at Maryfville, Ken- 
tucky, took his name. He was not infenfible to fuch marks of regard from 



thofe who, 
pofterity. 



in 



the coming generation, are to be a part of the voice of 




469 



APPENDIX E. 



TRANSLATIONS OF MR. PRESCOTT'S HISTORIES. 

I. Spanish. 

HISTORIA del Reinado de los Reves Catolicos, D. Fernando y D a - Ifabel, 
efcrita en Ingles por William H. Prefcott, traducida del Original por D. 
Pedro Sabau y Larrova. 4 torn. 8vo. Madrid, Rivadenevra, 1845, 1846. 

Hiftoria de la Conquifta de Mejico con una Refefia preliminar de la Civiliza- 
cion antigua Mejicana y la Vida del Conquiftador, Hernan Cortes, efcrita en 
Ingles por William Prefcott (fie), v traducida del Original por D. J. B. de Bera- 
tarrechea. 3 torn. 8vo. Madrid, Rivadenevra, 1847. 

Hiftoria de la Conquifta de Mexico con una Ojeada preliminar fobre la antigua 
Civilizacion de los Alexicanos y con la Vida de fu Conquiftador, Fernando Cortes. 
Efcrita en Ingles por W. Prefcott (fie), y traducida al Efpanol por Joaquin 
Navarro. 3 torn. 8vo. Mexico, imprefo por Ignacio Cumplido, editor de efta 
Obra, 1844-6. 

The fecond volume contains one hundred and twenty-four pages of notes on 

1 the whole work, by D. Jofe F. Ramirez, and the third confifts of feventv-one 

lithographic prints of the antiquities of Alexico, portraits of perfons who have 

J figured in its hiftorv, &c, with explanations to illuftrate them, by D. Ifidro R. 

Gondra, head of the Mexican Mufeum. 

Hiftoria de la Conquifta de Mejico con un Bofquejo preliminar de la Civiliza- 
cion de los antiguos Mejicanos v la Vida de fu Conquiftador, Hernando Cortes, 
efcrita en Ingles por Guillermo H. Prefcott, Autor de la "Hiftoria de Fernando 
e Ifabel," traducida al Caftellano por D. Jofe Maria Gonzalez de la Vega, 
Segundo Fifcal del Tribunal Superior del Departamento de Mejico, y anotada 
por D. Lucas Alaman. 2 torn. 8vo grande. Mejico, imprenta de V. G. Tor- 
res, 1844. 

I have imperfect notices of the following tranflations into Spanifh : — 

Hiftoria de los Reves Catolicos por Guillermo Prefcot (fie), traducida por 
D. Atiliano Calvo. Edicion iluftrada con buenos grabados que reprefentan 
diverfos pafages, viftas y retratos de los mas celebres perfonages. 1 tomo. 
4to. 

Hiftoria del Defcubrimiento y Conquifta del Peru, con Obfervaciones prelimi- 
nares fobre la Civilizacion de los Incas. 2 torn. 8vo. Madrid. 

There is alfo a tranflation of the " Hiftory of Philip the Second," but it is, 
perhaps, not yet all publifhed. 



Appendix E. 
Spanifh. 



47Q 

Appendix E. 

Tranflations. 
French. 



Appendix. 



Italian. 



German. 



II. French. 

Hiftoire du Regne de Ferdinand et d'Ifabelle, traduite de l'Anglais de 
Guillaume H. Prefcott, par J. Renfon et P. Ithier. 4 vol. 8vo. Paris et 
Bruxelles, Didot, i860, 1861. 

Hiftoire de la Conquete du Mexique, avec un tableau preliminaire de l'an- 
cienne Civilifation Mexicaine, et la Vie de Fernand Cortes, par William H. 
Prefcott, publiee en Frangais par Amedee Pichot. 3 vol. 8vo. Paris, F. Di- 
dot, 1846. 

Hiftoire de la Conquete du Perou, precedee d'un Tableau de la Civilifation 
des Incas, par W. H. Prefcott, traduite de l'Anglais par H. Poret. 3 vol.* 8vo. 
Paris, F. Didot, i860. 

Hiftoire du Regne de Philippe Second, par Guillaume H. Prefcott, traduite 
de l'Anglais par G. Renfon et P. Ithier. Tomes I. et II. Paris, F. Didot, 
i860. 

Don Carlos, fa Vie et fa Mort, par W. H. Prefcott, traduite de l'Anglais par 
G. Renfon. 8vo. Bruxelles, Van Meneen et C ie , i860. 

III. Italian. 

Storia del Regno di Ferdinando e Ifabella, Sovrani Cattolici di Spagna, di H. 
Prefcott (fie), recato per prima volta in Italiano da Afcanio Tempeftini. 3 torn. 
8vo. Firenze, per V. Batelli e Compagni, 1847, J 848. 

A notice of the original work by the Marquis Gino Capponi, who took much 
intereft in having it tranflated, may be found in the " Archivio Storico Italiano," 
Tom II., 1845; Appendice, p. 606. 

A portion of the " Hiftory of the Conqueft of Peru " was tranflated into 
Italian and publifhed at Florence in 1855 and 1856, in two parts, but it was 
made from the Spanifh verfion and not from the original Englifh. The firft is 
entitled, " Compendio delle Notizie generali ful Peru avanti la Conquifta, ec, 
tratte dalla Storia di Guglielmo Prefcott, e recate in Italiano da C[efare] 
M[agherini]." 8vo. Firenze, Tipografia Galileiana, 1855. The other part is 
entitled, " Scoperta e Conquifta del Peru, ftoria di Guglielmo Prefcott, tradotta 
da C[efare] M[agherini]." 8vo. Firenze, Tipografia Galileiana, 1856. This 
laft tranflation ftops at the year 1551, the year of Gonzalvo Pizarro's death. 

IV. German. 

Gefchichte der Regierung Ferdinand's und Ifabella's der Katholifchen von 
Spanien. Von William H. Prefcott. Aus dem Englifchen uberfetzt [von H. 
Eberty]. 2 Bande. 8vo. Leipzig, Brockhaus, 1842. 

Gefchichte der Eroberung von Mexico, mit einer einleitenden Ueberficht des 
friiheren mexicanifchen Bildungszuftandes und dem Leben des Eroberers, Her- 



Translations of Mr. Prescotfs Histories. 

nando Cortez. Von William H. Prefcott. Aus dem Englifchen uberfetzt [von 
H. Eberty]. 2 Bande. 8vo. Leipzig, Brockhaus, 1845. 

Gefchichte der Eroberung von Peru, mit einer einleitenden Ueberficht des 
Bildungszuftandes unter den Inkas. Von William H. Prefcott. Aus dem 
Englifchen uberfetzt [von H. Eberty]. 2 Bande. 8vo. Leipzig, Brockhaus, 
1848. 

Gefchichte Philipp's des Zweiten, von William H. Prefcott. Deutfch von 
Joh. Scherr. 8vo. Theil I. -III. Leipzig, O. Wigand, 1856, fqq. 

Das Klofterleben Carl's des Fiinften, von W. H. Prefcott. Aus dem Eng- 
lifchen von Julius Seybel. 8vo. Leipzig, Lorck, 1857. 

This laft conftitutes the twenty-third volume of Lorck's " Converfations- und 
Reife-Bibliothek." 

V. Dutch. 

Zeden, Gewoonten en Regeringfvorm in Peru voor de Komft der Spanjaar- 
den, gefchetft door W. H. Prefcott, uit het Engelfch vertaald door Mr. G. 
Mees, Az. 8vo. pp. 162. Amfterdam, P. Kraij, Junior, 1849. 

This is a tranflation of the firft book of the " Hiftory of the Conqueft of 
Peru," omitting a confiderable number of the notes. 

All the hiftorical works of Mr. Prefcott, in the original Englifh, have been 
reprinted both in Paris and in Leipzig ; and, I believe, other tranflations have 
been made of fome of them, notices of which I have failed to obtain. The 
" Hiftory of Ferdinand and Ifabella " is faid to have appeared in Dutch and 
Ruffian, but I have no diftindr. account of either. 




47i 



Appendix E. 

Tranflations. 



German. 



Dutch. 



472 



Appendix F. 



Infirmity of Mr. 
Prefcott. 



Friends. 



Agafliz. 



APPENDIX F 



CONVERSATION OF 



MR. PRESCOTT SHORTLY BEFORE 
HIS DEATH. 



THE laft printed notice of Mr. Prefcott and of his converfation is a very 
interefting one, by the Reverend William H. Milburn, of New York, 
the blind, or nearly blind, friend of whom Mr. Prefcott fpeaks more than once 
in his letters. From their common misfortune they had a ftrong fympathy with 
each other; and Mr. Milburn, having chanced to vifit the hiftorian, the evening 
but one before the day of his death, wrote an account of his interview im- 
mediately afterwards to the MefTrs. Harpers for their " Weekly," February 12th, 

l8 59- 

"On the evening in queftion," fays Mr. Milburn, " Wednefday, January 26th, 

Mr. Prefcott entered the library with a flower and heavier ftep than when I had 
been in the habit of feeing him years before ; but his manner had the fame 
unaffected fimplicity and cordial warmth. Whether a Arranger would have per- 
ceived it I cannot fay, but my ear, fharpened by neceflity, at once detected the 
work of paralyfis in an occafional thickening of the fpeech, — I mean, a difficulty 
in perfect articulation now and then. Among his very firft inquiries was a par- 
ticular one concerning the members of your own firm, — your health, the {late 
and profpe£ts of your bufinefs, &c, manifesting the deepeft intereft ; adding the 
remark that, through all the years of his bufinefs and perfonal connection with 
your firm, he had never experienced anything but the greateft kindnefs and con- 
fideration at your hands ; that his enjoyment of your fuccefs was undiminished ; 
and that he felt particularly grateful for the kindly mention which had been 
made of his perfonal affliction laft year in your paper, and for the handfome 
notice of the third volume of his ' Philip the Second ' in the current number 
of your 'Magazine.' 

" He then proceeded to a mention of various mutual friends that had paffed 
away fince our laft meeting, efpecially of the Hon. Abbott Lawrence and 
Mr. Francis C. Gray, at whofe dinner-tables we had often met ; and then of 
fome of his furviving friends, efpecially of Mr. Ticknor, who, he faid, had 
fhortened and brightened what, but for him, muft have been many a fad and 
weary hour ; and of Mr. Agafliz, concerning whofe Mufeum he expreffed the 
livelieft intereft. He remarked that the eyes of the latter had fuffered greatly 
from his work, and that he would be fadly balked in his profpecls, but that he 
was able to find relief in manifold manipulating labors. This led him naturally 
to fpeak of his own and my infirmity, which were about equal in degree, and 
of the different lives we had led ; — his, of retired ftudy ; mine, of travel and 
active toil. 



Letter of the Rev. Mr. Milburn. 473 

" He added : e I fuppofe that Ticknor will never write another book ; but he Appendix F. 
has been doing perhaps better for the community and pofterity by devoting him- Rev - Mr. Mil- 
felf for feveral years to the interefts of the Boft6n City Library, which may be urn s etter ' 
taken in good part as his work, — and a more valuable contribution to the good 
of the people has feldom been made. It is a rare thing for fuch an inftitution 
to get a man fo qualified by tafte, knowledge, and accomplifhment to look after 
its interefts with fuch energy and patience.' 

" Of Mr. Gray he obferved : c Poor Gray ! I think he was the moft remark- Francis C. Gray, 
able man I ever knew for variety and fulnefs of information, and a perfect 
command of it. He was a walking Encyclopaedia. I have feen many men who 
had excellent memories, provided you would let them turn to their libraries to 
get the information you wanted ; but, no matter on what fubjecl: you fpoke to 
him, his knowledge was at his fingers'-ends, and entirely at your fervice.' 

" He then led the converfation to his Englifh friends, to fome of whom he 
had given me letters on my recent vifit to that country. He firft fpoke of Lady Lady Lyell. 
Lyell, the wife of the celebrated geologift. ' She is one of the moft charming 
people I have ever feen,' he faid. ' When fhe married Sir Charles, fhe knew 
nothing of geology ; but, finding that her life was to be patted among ftones, fhe 
fet herfelf to work to make friends of them, and has done fo to perfection. She 
is in thorough fympathy with all her hufband's refearches and works; is the com- j 
panion of his journeys \ oftentimes his amanuenfis, for her hand has written j 
feveral of his books ; and the delight and cheer of his whole life. Unaffected, ' 
genial, accomplished, and delightful to an almoft unequalled extent, fhe is one of 
the rareft women you can meet. And,' he continued, 'you faw my friend Dean Dean Milman. 
Milman. What an admirable perfon he is ! I had a letter from him only a day 
or two fince, in which he gave an interefting account of the opening of his 
Cathedral, St. Paul's, to the popular Sunday-evening preachings, — a matter 
which has enlifted all the fympathies of the Bifhop of London and of himfelf. 
He has been a prodigioufly hard worker, and fo has acquired a prematurely old 
look. Accomplifhed as hiftorian, divine, poet, and man of letters, he is at 
the fame time among the moft agreeable and finifhed men of fociety I faw in 
England.' 

" 'Did you fee Dean Trench ? ' he proceeded. Upon my replying in the af- E 
firmative, he added : ' I am forry never to have feen him ; I have heard fuch 
pleafant things concerning him. He did me the favor fome time fince to fend 
me his " Calderon," which I enjoyed greatly.' Replying in the negative to my 
inquiry as to whether he had read the Dean's books on ' Words,' &c, he faid, 
'They fhall be the very next books I read.' 

" ' England 's a glorious country,' he faid, ' is n't it ? What a hearty and England 
noble people they are, and how an American's heart warms toward them after 
he has been there once, and found them out in their hofpitable homes ! ' 

" I faid : ' Mr. Prefcott, are n't you coming to New York ? We mould all 
be very glad to fee you there.' 'No,' he replied, 'I fuppofe that the days of my 
long journeys are over. I muft content myfelf, like Horace, with my three 
houfes. You know I go at the commencement of fummer to my cottage by 
the feafide at Lynn Beach, and in autumn to my patrimonial acres at Pepperell, 

60 



Mr. Prcfcott's 
homes. 



474 



Appendix F. 
Rev. Mr. Mil- 
burn's letter. 



His imperfect 
fight. 



His apoplexy. 



His gratitude. 



Appendix. 



trees 



which have been in our family for two hundred years, to fit under the old 
I fat under when a boy ; and then, with winter, come to town to hibernate in 
this houfe. This is the only travelling, I fuppofe, that I fhall do until I go to 
my long home. Do you remember the delightful fummer you fpent with us 
at Lynn, two or three years ago ? I wifh you would come and repeat it next 
fummer.' 

" In another part of the converfation he faid : 'Thefe men with eyes have us 
at a ferious difadvantage, have n't they ? While they run, we can only limp. 
But I have nothing to complain of, nor have you ; Providence has fingularly 
taken care of us both, and, by compenfation, keeps the balance even.' 

" He then fpoke with entire calmnefs of the fhock which his fyftem had 
received from his firft flroke of apoplexy laft year ; faid that it had weakened him 
a good deal ; but he was very grateful that he was able to take exercife, although 
confined to a fpare diet, and not allowed to touch meat or anything of a fb'mu- 
lative kind; and managed, moreover, to keep up his literary labors. 'I have 
always made my literary purfuits,' he faid, c a pleafure rather than a toil ; and 
hope to do fo with the remainder of " Philip," as I am yet able to work two or 
three, and fometimes more, hours a day.' He ftated that his eye had fufFered 
confiderably from the blow, and, while we talked, he found it neceflary to made 
his face. In the courfe of the converfation we were joined by the ladies of the 
family, Mrs. Prefcott, her fifter, his daughter, and daughter-in-law. He then 
fpoke in glowing and grateful terms, as I alluded to the intereft taken in his 
health throughout the country, of the kindnefs which he had invariablv expe- 
rienced at the hands of his countrymen. ' I can never,' he faid, 'be fufficiently 
grateful for the tokens of efteem, regard, and affection which I have had from 
them through all the years of my literary career. True, it makes me feel 
like an old man to fee my fifteen volumes upon the fhelf, but my heart is as 
young as it ever was to enjoy the love which the country has ever fhown me.' 
When I faid it was a cheering thing for a man to know he had given fo much 
happinefs as he had done by his books, he faid that it was his own trueft happi- 
nefs to truft that he had been able to confer it. He faid he hoped to live to 
finim c Philip,' which was now three fifths done. As I bade him good by, 
I faid, c God blefs you, Mr. Prefcott ; I know I breathe the prayer of the country 
when I fay, May your life be fpared for many years, to add volume after volume 
to the fifteen.' He rejoined, 'My greateft delight is the love of my friends and 
their appreciation of my labors.' 

" Little did I think that the hand which fo warmly grafped mine as he led me 
down the flairs would, ere eight and forty hours were paft, be cold and ftifF in 
death. Peace to the memory of one of the fweeteft and nobleff. men that ever 
lived ! 

" Yours very truly, 

"William H. Milburn." 



475 



APPENDIX G. 



ON HIS DEATH. 



SOON after Mr. Prefcott's death I received many notes and letters, ex- 
preffive of affection and admiration for him. From among them I ielecf. 
the following. 

The firft is by Mr. George Lunt, who was his fecretary in 1825-6, and knew 
him well. See ante, p. 81. 



ON A LATE LOSS. 
Imitation of Horace, Lib. I. Od. XXIV. 

Quis defiderio fit pudor, &c. 

What time can bring relief — 
What blame reprove our grief? 

The well-beloved lies low ! 
The funeral flrains prolong, 
O Mufe of tragic fong, 

With liquid voice and harp attuned to woe ! 

Does, then, perpetual fleep 
Hold him ? and bid us weep 

In vain to feek through earth 
For honor fo unftained, 
Such manly truth maintained, 

Such glory won and worn by modeft worth ? 

By all the good deplored, 
No tears lincerer poured, 

Than fell thine own, O friend ! 
Yet pious thou in vain, 
Claiming for earth again 

Gifts, which kind Heaven on no fuch terms will lend. 

No fond defires avail, 
Friendfhip's deep want muft fail, 

Even love's devout demand ; 
Inexorable Death, 
Pledges of deathlefs faith, 

Keeps fouls once gathered to the fhadowy land. 



Appendix G. 



Imitation of 
Horace, by 
Mr. Lunt. 



476 



Appendix G, 



Poem by the 
Rev. Geo. 
Richards. 



Appendix. 



And ofteneft to that bourne 
They pafs, nor more return, — 

The bell we mifs the moll ; 
Hard feems the flroke of fate, 
But Heaven bids us wait, 

And there, at lafl, rejoin the loved, the loft. 

Another ftiort poem came anonymoufly to my door, but was afterwards 
afcertained to have been written by the Rev. George Richards, then a clergy- 
man of Bofton. It was founded upon fome remarks made by me at the meeting 
of the Hiftorical Society, February ift, on the occafion of Mr. Prefcott's death, 
concerning his wifh, that, previous to their final depofit in the houfe appointed 
for all living, his remains might reft for a time in his library, under the fhadow, 
as it were, of the books he had fo much loved ; the remarks being nearly the 
fame with thofe about the fame circumftance in the account given, at page 444, 
of his laft days and burial. 

Mr. Richards entitled his poem 



THE HISTORIAN IN HIS LIBRARY. 

His wifh fulfilled ! 'T is done, as he had faid : 
Borne fadly back, with flow and reverent tread ; — 
Now clofeted, — the dead with kindred dead. 

Ye need not liflen, — no low-whifpered word 
From that hufhed conclave will be overheard ; 
Nor ftart, — as if the fhrouded fleeper ftirred. 

He refts, where he hath toiled : the bufy pen 
MifTes the bufier brain ; nor plods, as when 
It traced the lore of that far-fearching ken. 

He lies amid his peers ; the ftoried great 

Look down upon him, here reclined in ftate, — 

As mute as they who fpeechlefs round him wait. 

His tafk is done ; his working-day is o'er ; 
The morning larum wakens him no more, — 
Unheard its fummons, on that filent fhore. 

The pomp of Kings, the Incas* faded pride, 

The freighted bark, the lonely ocean wide, 

Dread war, glad peace, no more his thoughts divide. 

He lies, like warrior, after fet of fun, 

Stretched o-n the plain where his great deeds were done, 

Where he the green, immortal garland won. 



Letter from Dean Milman. 



Round him the relics of the hard-fought field, 

Helmet and lance and unavailing fhield, 

And well-proved blade he never more mail wield. 

So leave him, for a while, in that Hill room, 
His books among; — its fober, twilight gloom 
Fit prelude to the fliller, darker tomb. 

The laft of thefe tokens that I fhall cite is from one of the mod faithful and 

It is 



valued of his Englifh friends. 



FROM DEAN MILMAN. 

Deanery, St. Paul's, February 19th, [1859]. 

My dear Mr. Ticknor, 

I mult unburden myfelf to fome one of the profound forrow which I (I mould 
have written we) feel for our irreparable lofs. I have had the happinefs to form 
and retain the friendfhip of many excellent men ; no one has ever, confidering 
the fhort perfonal intercourfe which I enjoyed with him, and our but occafional 
correfpondence, wakened fuch ftrong and lading attachment. He found his way 
at once to my heart, and has there remained, and ever will remain, during the 
brief period to which I can now look forward, as an object of the warmeft 
efteem and affection. I think I mould have loved the man if I had only known 
him as an author ; his perfonal fociety only mowed his cordial, liberal, gentle 
character in a more diftinct and intimate form. That which was admiration 
became love. There is here but one feeling, among thofe who had not the 
good fortune to know him, as among thofe who knew him beft, — deep regret 
for a man who did honor to the literature of our common language, and whofe 
writings, from their intrinfic charm and excellence, were mod popular, without 
anv art or attempt to win popularity. 

The fuddennefs of the blow aggravates its heavinefs. I had written to him 
but a few weeks ago, (I doubt not that he received my letter,) exprefling the 
common admiration with which his laft volume was received here by all whofe 
opinion he and his moft difcerning friends would think of the higheft value. In 
one refpect he has ended well, for he never furpaffed paffages in the laft volume ; 
but it is fad to think that he has ended, and left his work incomplete. I can 
hardly hope that much can be left finifhed by his hand ; if anything is left, 
I truft it will pafs into the hand of him beft qualified to friape and mould it into 
form, yourfelf. As I feel that I can exprefs our forrows to no one fo fitly as to 



you. 



fo there is no one to whom the facred memory of our friend can be 
intrufted with equal confidence. From all that I have heard, his end (premature 
as our affection cannot but think it) was painlefs and peaceful; and if — as 
furely we may truft — the poffeflion and the devotion of fuch admirable gifts to 
their beft ufes, — the promotion of knowledge, humanity, charitv, in its wideft 
fenfe ; if a life, I fully believe, pei fectlv blamelefs, the difcharge of all domeftic 



477 



Appendix G. 



Letter of Dean 
Milman. 



478 



Appendix G. 



Appendix. 



duties fo as to fecure the tendereft attachment of all around ; if a calm, quiet, 
gentle, tolerant faith will juftify — as no doubt they may — our earneft hopes; 
it is that better peace which has no end. 

Both Mrs. Milman and I truft you will undertake the friendly office of com- 
municating our common forrow to thofe whofe forrow muft be more pungent 
than ours, though, I venture to fay, not more fincere. We fhall always think 
with warm intereft of all thofe who bear the honored name of Prefcott, or were 
connected by ties of kindred or affection with him. And permit me to add to 
yourfelf our kindeft condolence, our beft wifhes, and our hopes that we may fee 
you again, and foon, in Europe. 

Believe me, my dear Mr. Ticknor, 

Ever your fincere friend, 

H. H. Milman. 




— =>£ss£^->tgS^ 




Index 



Abbotsford, vifit to, 328. 

Adams, J. Q., library, 9 ; Minifter in 

London, 43 ; on the " Ferdinand and 

Ifabella," 232 note. 
Adams, Sir W., 43. 
Agassiz, L., 422, 440, 472. 
Alaman, Lucas, 428, 436. 
Albany, vifit to, 265. 
Alberi, E., 270, 370 note. 
Alfieri, V., Life, 234. 
Alison, Sir A., 316, 332. 
Allen, John, 119 and note. 
Allstox, Washington, 56, 348, 349. 
Al-Makkari, tranflated, 182. 
Alnwick Caftle, vifit to, 324—329. 
Amadis de Gaula, 10, 72 note. 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

44 6 - 
American Antiquarian Society, 446. 

Americanifms, 227 note. 

American Stationers' Company, 104. 

Ames, Joseph, portrait of Prefcott, 231. 

Amory, Mrs. Charles, 298. 

Amory, Susan, wife of Mr. Prefcott, 53. 

See alfo Prefcott, Sufan. 
Amory, Thomas C, 52. 
Amory, William, 298, 460. 
Antwerp, vifit to, 322. 
Apoplexy, Mr. Prefcott's firft attack, 424; 

his own views of it, 425, 432, 433, 434, 

436; fecond attack fatal, 442, 443. 
Arabs in Spain, Gayangos on, 181. ■ — 
Archives du Royaume, 366, 367. 
Argyll, Duke of, vifit to, 331 ; Addrefs 

of, 352. 
Armada, documents for, 270. 
Ascham, Roger, 59. 

61 



Afcot Races, 303, 304, 306. 

Aspinwall, Colonel Thomas, relations 

with Mr. Prefcott, 108, 246, 266, 412; 

letters to, 240, 246, 267. 
Afylum for the Blind, 251-253. 
Athenaeum. See Bofton Athenaeum. 

Bancroft, George, relations with Mr. 
Prefcott, 97, 98 and note, 359 ; on the 
"Ferdinand and Ifabella," 93, no, 
362 ; letters from Mr. Prefcott to, 97, 
360, 361, 362, 379, 380, 432 ; Hiftory 
of the United States, 355, 361, 379. 
380, 432, 435. 

Beacon Street home, 262. 

Bedford Street home, 53, 261, 262, 391. 

Belgium, vifit to, 321, 324, 344. 

Bell, Sir Charles, 134 note. 

Benavides, 208. 

Bentinck, Lord William, 415. 

Bentley, R., publifhes for Mr. Prefcott in 
London, 109, 117 note, 246, 247, 266. 

Berlin, Royal Society of, Mr. Prefcott 
elefted into, 239. 

Bernaldes, Andres, Chronicle, 86. 

Berry, Miss, note of, 339. 

Bigelow, T., 264 note. 

Biographical and Critical Mifcellanies, 
246-254. 

Biot, on Humboldt, 165. 

Blindnefs, remarks on, 252. 

Bliss, Alexander, of the Club, 55 note. 

Bonds to induce work. See Wagers. 

Books not eafily obtained, 9. 

Bofton Athenaeum, 9, 446. 

Bolton, Prefcott homes in, 391. 

Bofton Public Library, 4.73. 



481 



482 


Index. 


Bowditch, Nathaniel, 6. 


Chevalier, Michel, on the " Hiftory of 




Brazer, John, of the Club, 55 note. 


the Conqueft of Mexico," 243. 




Bradford, Samuel D., 26. 


Chriftianity, examination of its truth by 




Bridgman, Laura, 251. 


Mr. Prefcott, 90; re-examination, 164. 




Britifh Mufeum, 181, 190. 


Circourt, Count Adolphe de, on the 




Brougham, Lord, 223 and note ; manners 


" Ferdinand and Ifabella," 1 1 2 and note, 




in the Houfe of Lords, 313. 


118; his Effays and Reviews, 242; 




Brown, Charles Brockden, Life of, 250. 


letter to, 417. 




BrufTels, vifit to, 321. 


Claffical Studies of Mr. Prefcott, 7, 10, 




Buckle, T., Hiftory of Civilization, 426, 


16, 25, 26, 28, 45, 58. 




435- 


Clemencin, Diego de, on Ifabella the 




Bulwer, Sir Henry Lytton, 298. 


Catholic, 96, 290. 




Bunker Hill Battle, 432, 433, 453. 


Club-Room, a periodical, 56, 57. 




Bunsen, C, Pruftian Minifter in London, 


Club to which Mr. Prefcott belonged, 55 




3*3- 


"57- 




Byron, Lord, 92, 184. 


Cogswell, Joseph G., 166 note; on the 
" Conqueft of Mexico," 206. 




Calderon, Don Angel, 162, 199, 298. 


College Life, Mr. Prefcott's remarks on, 




Calderon, Madame, Travels in Mexico, 


27 note. 




253 ; letter to, 436. 


Columbus, 237, 238 and note ; Irving's 




Cane prefented to Mr. Prefcott, 376. 


Life of, 187. 




Capponi, the Marquis Gino, 186 and 


Con-de, Hiftory of the Arabs, 92. 




note, 271, 364, 370, 371, 470. 


Cooper, Sir Astley, 43. 




Carlisle, Dowager Lady, 302, 334, 


Copyright, international, 176, 404. 




421. 


Corneille, Pierre, 60, 253 note. 




Carlisle, Earl of, letters from, 276, 


Cortes, Fernando, portrait of, 188; char- 




413; letters _ to, 348, 350, 351, 352, 


acter, 214. 




354, 437; kindnefs to Mr. Prefcott in 


Critical and Hiftorical Effays, 246-256. 




London, 302, 309 ; at Naworth Caftle, 


Croffed Swords, the, 53, 54, 461. 




332; at Caftle Howard, 333 fqq. ; Lec- 


Curtis, George T., on the " Conqueft of 




tures of, 350. See alfo Morpeth, Vif- 


Mexico," 206 ; on Mr. Prefcott's ftyle, 




count. 


226. 




Carlos, Don, 189, 387. 






Carlyle, Thomas, 319, 362. 


Dane, Nathan, 454. 




Carter, Robert, Secretary to Mr. Pref- 


Dante, 65-68. 




cott, 82 note; on Mr. Prefcott's chari- 


Daponte, Lorenzo, controverfy, 248, 




ties, 157- 159. 


249. 




Cary's Dante, 67. 


Davidson, Margaret, Irving's Life of, 




Cervantes, Review of, 253. 


187. 




Chambers, Rebellion of 1745, 187. 


Dawson, George A. F., of the Club, 55 




Channing, Rev. W. E., Sermon to Chil- 


note. 




dren, 5 ; on the " Ferdinand and Ifa- 


Dexter, Elizabeth, filler of the hiftorian, 




bella," 120; his ftyle, 223, 224. 


458. See alfo Prefcott, Elizabeth. 




Charles the Fifth at Yufte, 269; at St. 


Dexter, Franklin, of the Club, 55 note; 




Gudule, 321 ; Mr. Prefcott urged to 


contributions to the Club-Room, 56 ; 




write his hiftory, 372; declines, but 


notice of, 458. 




writes the account of his life at Yufte, 


Diaz, Bernal, 214. 




406, 407. 


Dionysius of Halicarnassus, on Plato, 




Chatfworth, vifit to, 339. 


150 note. 




Cherry-tree at Lynn, 400, 401 and note. 


Dummer Academy, 7, 454. 



Index. 



Dunham, Dr., on the "Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," m. 

Earthquake at St. Michael's, 37. 

Edgeworth, Maria, on " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," 189; letter from, 271 ; her 
fictions, 394, 426. 

Edie Ochiltree, 396 and note. 

Edinburgh Review, miftake about Mr. 
Prefcott's blindnefs, 267, 268. 

Elgin Marbles, 44. 

Eliot, Samuel A., of the Club, 55 note. 

Eliot, William H., of the Club, 55 note. 

Ellesmere, Earl, vifit from, 402 ; letter 
from, 415. 

Ellis, Rev. Rufus, 445 note. 

Ellis, Rev. Dr. George E., 151 note. 

England, firft vifits to, 42-44, 47, 48; 
propofes to go again, 197 ; vifit there, 
2 99~34 T 5 Society, 305, 312, 318, 319, 
329, 330; hofpitality, 312,315; coun- 
try life, 323-339, 344; relations with 
the United States, 353 ; character, 340, 
341, 380, 473 ; intolerance, 341, 423. 

English, James L., Secretary to Mr. Pref- 
cott, 82, 85 ; on Mr. Prefcott's modes of 
work, 86, 87 ; bonds with him, 144. 

Entertainments at Harvard College Com- 
mencements, 26, 27. 

EiTex Inftitute, 446. 

Everett, Alexander H., letter to/76; 
aids Mr. Prefcott, 193. 

Everett, Edward, aids Mr. Prefcott, 189, 
287; relations with him, 359; letters 
to, 365, 369, 374, 376; letters from, 
211, 366, 367, 371, 372; lecture on 
Peru, 366 ; on Wafhington, 436. 

Eye, injury to Mr. Prefcott's, 19-22; 
fevere attack of rheumatifm in, 28 — 31 ; 
fuffers in St. Michael's, 34 ; flate of, 
when in England, 43 ; in Italy, 45 ; in 
Paris, 46 ; influence on his character, 
121, 122, 1 26 ; never to be depended on, 
1 29 and note ; premature decay of, 1 29 ; 
hardly ufed at all, 130; always anxious 
about, 132, 134; befl condition of, 194; 
infirmity of, connected with ftyle, 228, 
229 ; increafed trouble, 263 ; very bad 
condition, 264; miilakes of Edinburgh 
Review about, 267, 268 ; Mifs Edge- 



worth on, 271 ; increafing infirmity, 
281, 282, 292, 345; never permanent- 
ly blind, 376. 

Farre, Dr., London, 43. 

Fauriel, Charles, 118. 

Felton, Cornelius C, Editor of Lord 
Carliile's Diary, 413, 414. 

" Ferdinand and Ifabella," thought of as a 
fubject for hiflory, 73, 74, 75, 76 ; ma- 
terials for, collected, jj ; book written, 
82 - 100 ; four copies privately printed, 
101 ; doubts about publifhing, 101 ; 
publifhed, 102 ; fuccefs, 114— 120 ; 
anxiety about, 160; Ford's letter on, 
191 ; his review of, 221, fqq. ; threat- 
ened abridgment, 197. 

Ferguson, Adam, 427, 435. 

Fisher, Dr. John D., afylum for the blind, 
251. 

Florence, vifit to, 369, 

Folsom, Charles, of the Club, 55 note ; 
corrects Mr. Prefcott's writings, 104, 
151 and note, 212, 226 and note, 428. 

Ford, Richard, his review of " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 111,1 20, 221, 222, 363 ; 
Mr. Thomas Grenville on it, 211 ; 
Handbook of Mr. Ford, 269 ; letter 
from, 191 ; letter to, 347. 

France, vifits to, 44, 46, 320. 

Freeman, Rev. James, 408 note. 

Frisbie, L., Profeffor, 15. 

Frothingham, Rev. Dr. N. L., on Mr. 
Prefcott's character, 31 ; poem on "The 
CrofTed Swords," 462, 463. 

Furnace, the, at St. Michael's, 37. 

Gachard on Charles V., 406 ; on Philip 
II., 417. 

Gallatin, Albert, letter from, 208. 

Gardiner, Rev. Dr. John S. J., fchool of, 
7, 8, 260 note. 

Gardiner, William Howard, friend of 
Mr. Prefcott, 11 -14; on Mr. Pref- 
cott's habit of making refolutions, 18, 
19; on his involuntary laughter, 23; 
letters to, 38, 48 ; reads clafhcs with 
Mr. Prefcott, 50; of the Club, 55 
note; account of the Club, 57 note; 
Latin ode to, 122 ; revifes the " Ferdi- 



483 



4 8 4 



Index. 



nand and Ifabella," 102, 106; reviews 
it, no, 115; on Mr. Prefcott's focial 
character, 136 — 138 ; on his mathemat- 
ics, 196 note; on his Pepperell farm, 
397 note ; last dinner with him, 410. 

Gayangos, Pascual de, review of the 
"Ferdinand and Ifabella," in, 120 
materials for the Conqueft of Peru, 269 
for Philip II., 269, 273, 286-289 
letters to, 181, 182, 185, 189, 190, 207 
208, 209, 242, 270, 273. 

German inftruction, difficult to obtain, 9. 

German fludies not undertaken by Mr. 
Prefcott, 68, 69. 

Gibbon, Autobiography, 73 note; habits 
of compofition, 149 note. 

Gonsalvo de Cordova, manufcripts of, 
186 and note. 

Gray, Francis Calley, gift to Harvard 
College, 440; character, 472, 473. 
1 Gray, John Chipman, friend of Mr. Pref- 
cott, 19; travels with him, 44; of the 
Club, 55 note. 

Greenough, Richard S., bull of Mr. 
Prefcott, 231. 

Greenwood, Francis W. P., of the Club, 
55 note; reviews the " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," no. 

Grenville, Thomas, 211. 

Guicciardini, Pietro, 371. 

Guizot, Francois, 118, 125 note, 405. 

Hale, Dr. Enoch, of the Club, 55 note. 

Hallam, Henry, on the " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," 1 20 ; on Mr. Prefcott's flyle, 
226; letters from, 210, 274, 416. 

Hamilton, John C, letter to, 214. 

Hampton Court, vifit to, 303. 

Ham's Hall, vifit to, 323. 

Harper and Brothers publifh the " Con- 
queft of Mexico," 203 ; the " Mifcel- 
lanies," 247 ; the " Conqueft of Peru," 
265 ; their eftablifhment burnt, 387 ; 
regard for them, 472. 

Hartford Convention, 455. 

Harvard College, Mr. Prefcott enters, 14; 
life there, 16-27; his honors there, 
25, 26, 446, 467. 

Hayward, George, 239. 

Head, Sir Edmund, 411. 



Hickling, Thomas, maternal grandfather 
to Mr. Prefcott, Conful at St. Michael's, 
32, 457 ; vifit to him, 33 - 42. 

HlGGINSON, MEHITABLE, 3. 

Hillard, George S., on the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 115; on the " Conqueft 
of Mexico," 206 ; his " Six Months in 
Italy," 363 and note, 386. 

Hiftorical judgment, ftandard for, 214. 

Hiftorical Society of Maffachufetts, be- 
queft to, 54, 461. 

Holland, excurfion in, 322, 323. 

Holland, Lord, on the " Ferdinand and 
Ifabella," 1 19, 120. 

Holland, Sir Henry, 345, 349. 

Homes of the Prefcott family, 2, 50, 53 
and note, 390 — 401. 

Horace, imitation of, 475. 

Horner, L., vifit to, 302. 

Howard Caftle, vifit to, 333-337. 

Howard, Lady Mary, 333, 334, 335, 337. 
See alfo Labouchere, Lady Mary. 

Howards, family of, 309, 338. 

Howe, Dr. Samuel G., labors for the 
blind, 251. 

Hughes, Archbishop, on the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 232. 

Humboldt, Alexander von, opinion of, 
165, 195 ; on the " Conqueft' of Mex- 
ico," 237, 241 ; aflifts Mr. Prefcott, 287; 
Mr. Prefcott's defire to fee him, 412. 

Illinois Hiftorical Society, 446. 

Indian Summer, 408 and note. 

Inftitute, French, Mr. Prefcott elefted a 
correfponding member, 238 — 240. 

Irving, Pierre M., Life of Wafhington Ir- 
ving, 172, 173 and note. 

Irving, Washington, Conqueft of Gran- 
ada, 93, 253 ; correfpondence with, 
about the " Conqueft of Mexico," 
166-173; about copyright, 176; his 
" Sketch-Book," 177 ; " Columbus," 
187; " Memoir of Margaret Davidfon," 
187; flyle, 195, 223; going Minifter 
to Spain, 201 ; on Chriftmas, 387 ; let- 
ters from, 422, 439. 

Italian poetry, reviews of, 247, 250. 

Italian fludies, 61 -68, 74, 75. 

Italy, travels in, 44- 46. 



Index. 



485 



Jackson, Dr. James, friend and medical 
advifer of Mr. Prefcott ; on the original 
injury to his eye, 20 and note; on the 
fubfequent fevere inflammation, 28-31 ; 
on his firft attack of apoplexy, 425 ; on 
the fecond and fatal one, 443 ; letter on 
Mr. Prefcott's ilineffes, 20 note. 

Johnson, Samuel, on Addifon's flyle, 223 
and note ; on the blindnefs of Milton, 

77- 
Jonson, Ben, 60. 

Kenyon, John, 256, 315. 
King, Charles, 47 note. 
Kirk, John Foster, Secretary to Mr. Pref- 
cott, 82 note, 301, 318, 442. 
Kirkland, John T., 14 note. 
Knapp, Jacob Newman, 3. 
Kossuth, 355. 

Labouchere, Lady Mary, letter to, 421. 
See alfo Howard, Lady Mary. 

Lamartine, A., 112. 

Latin Chriftianity, by Dean Milman, 388. 

Laura of Petrarch, 62 — 64. 

Lawrence, Abbott, Minifter in London, 
301; at Alnwick Cattle, 327; illnefs 
and death, 411, 414, 415; Life of, by 
Mr. Prefcott, 407 and note ; Lord El- 
lefmere on, 415. 

Lawrence, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. 
Prefcott, and her children, 409, 459, 
460. See alfo Prefcott, Elizabeth. 

Lawrence, James, married to Mifs Pref- 
cott, 35 3> 354> 35 6 ; villa at Lynn, 414; 
meeting about a zoological mufeum at 
his house, 440. 

Lebanon Springs, 201. 

Lembke, Dr. W. F., collects materials for 
Mr. Prefcott's hiftories, 171 and note, 
193, 285, 286. 

Leopold, King of Belgium, 322. 

Linzee, Capt. John, grandfather of Mrs. 
W. H. Prefcott, 54, 461. 

Literary honors received by Mr. Prefcott, 
467, 468. 

Literary loafing, 128 note, 202, 203. 

Livy, 186. 

Lockhart, John G., on the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 1 20 ; Mr. Prefcott's re- 



view of his Life of Scott, 163, 253; 
firft meeting with, 302 note ; letter from, 
349 ; death, 412. 

Longman & Co., 109, 119 note. 

Loring, Charles G., of the Club, 55 
note, 151 note. 

Lunt, George, Secretary to Mr. Prefcott, 
82 note; imitation of Horace on his 
death, 475. 

Lyell, Sir Charles, firft vifit to the Unit- 
ed States, 207 and note ; fecond, 385 and 
note; third, 386, 402; firft greeting of 
Mr. Prefcott in London, 301 ; Mr. 
Prefcott's regard for, 319; letters to, 
419, 440. 

Lyell, Lady, letters to, 275, 301 note, 

343> 35 6 > 3 8 5> 3 86 > 3 8 7> 3 8 9> 4 JI > 
412, 414, 422, 423, 433, 435, 438; 
last words about, 473. 
Lynn, villa at, 400 ; life there, 402. 

Mably, Etude de l'Histoire, 73, 95 and 
note. 

Macaulay, habits of composition, 314, 
315; in fociety, 319 ; his Hiftory, 353, 
416, 417 ; letter from, 439. 

Mackintosh, Sir James, 226, 255. 

Mahon, Lord (Earl of Stanhope), hiftory 
of Europe, 355. 

Marsh, George P., on ftyle and compofi- 
tion, 150 note, 227 note. 

Maryland Hiftorical Society, 446. 

Mason, William Powell, early friend of 
Mr. Prefcott, 15 ; of the Club, 55 
note. 

Maffachufetts Convention on the Confti- 
tution, 456. 

Maffachufetts Hiftorical Society on Mr. 
Prefcott's death, 446 ; proceedings on 
the Croffed Swords, 461, 462. 

Memoirs, private, and private letters, value 
for hiftory, 190, 208. 

Memoranda, Mr. Prefcott's private, 146, 
175, 429. 

Mexico, Hiftory of the Conqueft of, mate- 
rials for, collected, 164, 165, 167, 193 ; 
correfpondence about, with Mr. Irving, 
166- 173 ; plan of, 194 ; begins to write 
it, 194; Introduction, 196; work com- 
pleted, 202 and note ; publifhed, 204 ; 



4 86 



Index. 



great fuccefs, 205 ; Englifh edition, 
205; his own thoughts on, 206, 212; 
a iblace to the fuffering, 241 ; correcl- 
ed, 428, 429 ; tranflations of, 428, 469, 
470. 

Middleton, Arthur, early friend of Mr. 
Prefcott, 14; affifts him in collecting 
materials for his hiftories, 193, 285 ; 
family of, 300. 

Mignet on the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," 
118; on the election of Mr. Prefcott 
into the Inftitute, 239 ; materials for 
Philip II., 286, 366; on Charles V., 
406. 

Milburn, the Rev. Wm. H., on Mr. 
Prefcott, 472. 

Miller, General, 182 and note. 

Milman, the Rev. H. H., on " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 1 20 ; review of the " Con- 
queil of Mexico," 206 ; acquaintance 
with, 301; regard for, 316, 319; on 
Mr. Prefcott's ftyle, 226, 477 ; letters 
to, 213, 344, 388; letters from, 215, 
419; Mr. Prefcott's last words about, 
473 ; letter on Mr. Prefcott's death, 

477- 
Milman, Mrs., letters to, 353, 386, 

417. 
Milnes, R. Monckton, 308. 
Milton, blindnefs, 21 ; profe ftyle, 59. 
Moliere, 60 ; propofed Life of, 161, 162, 

163, 164; Review of, 253. 
Montaigne, 60. 
Moody, Master, 7, 454. 
Morpeth, Viscount, vifit to Bofton, 198 ; 

letters from, 199, 202; memorandum 

on, 200; at New York, 373. See alfo 

Carlifle, Earl of. 
Morley, Lady, 318. 
Motley, J. Lothrop, relations with Mr. 

Prefcott, 277- 280. 
Murray, John, Senior, declines publifh- 

ing the " Ferdinand and Ifabella," 109, 

1 19 note. 
Murray, John, the younger, 305 note. 

Nahant, cottage and life at, 397 — 399. 

Napier, McVey, Editor of the Edinburgh 
Review, 120; on Mr. Prefcott's blind- 
nefs, 268. 



Navarrete, Martin Fernandez de, affifts 

Mr. Prefcott, 162 and note, 176; death 

of, 239, 240. 
Naworth Caitle, vifit to, 332. 
Nepaulefe Princes, 302 note. 
New England Genealogical Society, 446. 
New York, city of, vifits to, 162, 201, 

232, 264. 
New York Hiflorical Society, 446. 
New York, State of, 240. 
Niagara, vifit to, 234; painting of, 351. 
Noctograph, 123-125, 150, 465. 
North American Review, articles for, 51, 

92, 93, 255, 256. 
Northampton, Lord, 310, 314. 
Northumberland, Duke of, vifit to, 324- 

329. 

Otis, Edmund B., Secretary to Mr. Pref- 
cott, 82 note, 232 note; letter of, 464. 
Oxford, Bishop of, vifit to, 310, 311. 

Oxford University, doctorate at, 312-314. 

Palfrey, John Gorham, of the Club, 55 
note. 

Paris, vifits to, 44, 46, 320. 

Parke, Baron (Lord Wenfleydale), 339 
note. 

Parker, Daniel, 47. 

Parker, Hamilton, Secretary to Mr, 
Prefcott, 82 note, 

Parr, Dr. Samuel, 7. 

Parsons, Professor Theophilus, early 
friend of Mr. Prefcott ; of the Club, 
5 5 note ; on Mr. Prefcott's focial char- 
after, 139; on his converfation, 381 ; 
letter to, 434. 

Pascal, 60. 

Peabody, Joseph, Salem merchant, 6. 

Peele, Sir R., dinner, 304, 305 note ; 
death, 317; refufal of a peerage, 330; 
his papers, 331. 

Pennfylvania Hiflorical Society, 446. 

Perkins, Thomas H., liberality to the 
Blind Afylum, 251 and note ; refem- 
blance to Wellington, 304 and note. 

Pepperell farm, defcription of, 348 ; at- 
tachment to, 386, 389; life at, 392- 
396 ; teftamentary difpofitions refpecV 
ing, 396, 397 and note. 



Index. 



Pepperell, town of, fettled and name, 
451. 

Peru, Hiftory of the Conqueft of, be- 
gun, 231-234; work upon, 241, 258, 
260; difficulties with, 263; nnilhed, 
265 ; publifhed, 265 ; mifgivings about, 
and fuccefs, 266. 

Petrarch, difcuffion about, 62 — 64. 

Phi Beta Kappa Society, 25, 26 and note ; 
Mr. Sumner's Oration before, 378. 

Philip II., bufmefs habits and capacity, 
368, 372 ; letters of, in Paris, 368 ; in 
Florence, 371. 

Philip II., Hiftory of, materials collected 
for, 189, 190, 207, 209, 269 ; Mr. Mot- 
ley's letter about, 277-280; Mr. Pref- 
cott's difficulties, 281; inquiries begun, 
282 ; arrangements, 284 — 290 ; doubts 
about form of, 293 ; fynopfis of, 294; 
begins to write, 296; memoirs, 297; 
Hopped by failure of health, 299 ; fin- 
iihes volume firft as a hiftory and not 
as memoirs, 346; progrefs, 381, 384; 
nnifhes fecond volume, 403 ; publifhes 
the two, 404 ; their fuccefs, 405 ; works 
on volume third, 407, 409 ; nnifhes it, 
428 ; publifhes it, 436, 439. 

Phillips, Charles, 206. 

Pickering, John, 6 ; on the " Ferdinand 
and Ifabella," 102, 110; Memoir of, 
283, 284. 

Pickering, Octavius, of the Club, 55 
note. 

Pickmans, merchants, 6. 

Pizarro, 259. 

Playfair, Professor, 426, 427 note. 

Plummer Hall, 2. 

Polk, President, 377. 

Prescott family, 449 - 460. 

Prescott, Abigail, grandmother of the 
hiftorian, 452, 454. 

Prescott, Benjamin, anceftor of the hifto- 
rian, 450. 

Prescott, Catharine Greene, mother of 
the hillorian, notice of, 457, 458 ; in- 
fluence on her fon, 1, 2, 5 ; letters to, 
3 5, 40, 310; fon never parted from her, 
421 ; illnefles, 118, 357 ; death, 384. 

Prescott, Catharine Hickling. daughter 
of the hillorian, death, 89, 90 and note. 



Prescott, Catharine Elizabeth, filler of 
the hiftorian, letter to, 36 ; her notices 
of him, 50, 51 ; her marriage, 458. 
See alfo Dexter, Elizabeth. 

Prescott, Edward Gordon, brother of 
the hiftorian, death of, 234 ; notice of, 
458, 459. 

Prescott, Elizabeth, daughter of the hif- 
torian, letters to, 306, 323, 324; mar- 
riage, 353, 354, 356; lives near him, 
414. See Lawrence, Elizabeth. 

Prescott, James, anceftor of the hiftorian, 
451. 

Prescott, John, firft emigrant of the fam- 
ily, 450. 

Prescott, Jonas, anceftor of the hiftorian, 
450. 

Prescott, Oliver, father and son, 451. 

Prescott, William, grandfather of the 
hiftorian, letter to the people of Bofton, 
432 note ; commands on Bunker Hill, 
54; notice of, 451-453. 

Prescott, William, father of the hifto- 
rian, notice of, 453 — 457 ; influence 
on his fon, 5 ; removal from Salem to 
Bofton, 6 ; life there, 7 ; letters to, 14, 
33, 35, 40; illnefs, 203, 204; partial 
recovery, 233 ; death, 235 ; effects on 
his fon, 236, 239 and note, 243 ; char- 
after, 244, 245, 260, 262, 393. 

Prescott, William Hickling. 
1796. — Birth, 1. 

1800- 1803. — Early education, 2, 3. 
1803 - 181 1. — School-boy life, 3-13. 
1811-1814. — College life, 16-27; 
lofs of his left eye, 19 ; intends to 
ftudy law, 28. 
1 8 1 5. — Severe difeafe in his remaining 
eye, 28-31 ; refidence for his health 
in St. Michael's, 33-42. 

1 8 16, 1 817. — Travels in England, 
France, and Italy, and return home, 

43 - 49- 

1 8 1 7, 1 8 1 8. — Retired life at home, 50 ; 
writes his firft article for a Review, 
and fails, 51. 

1 818, — Gives up his intention to ftudy 
law, 51, 52, 1 22. 

1820. -Is married, 52, 53 ; with fome 
friends forms a Club, 55; " The 



487 



4 88 



Index. 



Club-Room," 56 ; determines on a 
life of letters, 58. 
821 - 1824. — Prepares himfelf for it, 
59-69. 

825. — Firft Spanifh ftudies, 70 - 72 ; 
propofes to write hiftory of fome fort, 
73-80. 

826. — Selects "Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella " for his fubject, 76. 

827-1837. — Writes and publifhes 

it, 83 - 116. 
837. — Thinks of writing a Life of 

Moliere, 161. 
838 - 1843. — Prefers the " Conqueft 

of Mexico," and writes and publifhes 

it, 193 - 206. 
844. - Publifhes a volume of Mifcel- 

lanies, 246 - 256. 
844-1847. — Writes and publifhes 

the " Conqueft of Peru," 231 - 266. 
844. — Death of his father, 235, 236 ; 

election into the French Inftitute and 

the Royal Academy of Berlin, 238- 

240. 

848. — Doubts about a Hiftory of 
Philip II., 280 ; Memoir of Picker- 
ing, 283 ; Hiftory of the Conqueft 
of Mexico under General Scott pro- 
pofed to him, 291. 

849. — Begins Hiftory of Philip II., 
296. 

850. — Vifit to England, 299-341. 

851. — Goes on with Philip II., 346. 

852. — Death of his mother, 383. 
854-1855. — Finifhes and publifhes 

firft two volumes of Philip II., 404. 
855- 1856. — Addition to Robertfon's 
Hiftory of Charles V., 406. 

856. — Memoir of Mr. Lawrence, 
407. 

857. — Failing health, 409. 

858. — Firft apoplectic attack, 424- 
427 ; finifhes the third volume of 
Philip II., 428 ; corrects "Conqueft 
of Mexico," 428 ; laft refidence in 
Pepperell, 429. 

859. — I, all occupations, 431 ; laft 
letter, 440 ; lafl pleafures, 441 ; 
death, 442, 443 ; funeral, 44^ ; pub- 
lic farrow , 446. 



Prescott, W. H. 

Early amufements, 4, 12-14; refolu- 
tions made and broken, 17 ; indul- 
gences at college, 18 ; diflike of 
mathematics, 22, 196 and note ; in- 
voluntary fits of laughter, 24 ; likes 
puns, 53 note ; perfonai appearance, 
54; death of his firft daughter, 89; 
inquiries into the truth of Chriftian- 
ity, 90 ; Mably and Clemencin, 95, 
96 ; character, habits, and modes of 
work influenced by the infirmity in 
his fight, 121 - 135 ; fmokes moder- 
ately, and drinks wine by rule, 133 ; 
focial character, 136— 139; early de- 
termines on a life of labor, 140 ; ob- 
ftacles and expedients to overcome 
them, 142-146; prepares his com- 
pofition in his memory, 148— 151 ; 
moral fupervifion of his character, 
152, 153 ; much relating to his hab- 
its little known, 154, 155; conver- 
fation and manners, 156; charities 
public and private, 157-159; frefh 
inquiries into the truth of Chriilian- 
ity, 164 ; correfpondence with Mr. 
Irving, 166- 173; threatened abridg- 
ment of " Ferdinand and Ifabella," 
197 ; acquaintance and friendfhip with 
Lord Morpeth, 198- 201 ; his ftyle, 
and how he formed it, 217-230; 
death of his brother Edward, 234 ; 
death of his father, 235 - 237 ; elect- 
ed into the French Inftitute and the 
Royal Academy of Berlin, 238 - 240 ; 
contributions to the North American 
Review, 255 ; domeftic relations, 257 ; 
life at Pepperell, 259- 262 ; removal 
to Beacon Street, 262 ; journey to 
Washington, 264 ; to Albany, 265 ; 
letter of Mr. Motley, 277-280; 
bad ftate of his eye, 281, 282 ; Ranke, 
289, 290 ; fear of deafneis, 297 ; dif- 
couragement and anxieties, 293 - 295 ; 
failure of health, 297 ; vifit to Wash- 
ington, 298 ; to England, 299- 341 ; 
youthful appearance, 321 ; difficul- 
ties, 34^, 346 ; political opinions, 
{58 ; political convcrlation, 381 ; his 
different homes, 390- 401 ; firft fum- 



Index. 



mer at Lynn, 402 ; correfpondence, 
411-423 ; apoplectic attack and re- 
covery, 424-428; occupations fub- 
fequently, 429-431 ; correfpondence, 
432-440; death and funeral, 442 - 
446 ; regularity of his habits, 464 ; 
preferred literary to civil hiflory, 464 ; 
love of his books, 466 ; literary hon- 
ors, 467 ; tranflations of his hiftories, 
469, 470 ; converfation with Rev. 
Mr. Milburn, 472 ; feelings of grati- 
tude to his countrymen, 474 ; ex- 
preffions of individual sorrow at his 
death, 475-478. 
Prescott, Susan, wife of the hiftorian, her 

marriage, 52, 53 ; notice of, 257, 258; 

letters to, 302, 308, 316, 318, 321, 332, 

337- 
Prescott, William Amory, fon of the 

hiftorian, 260, 317, 460. 
Prescott, William Gardiner, fon of the 

hiftorian, 6 note, 260 ; in London, 317 ; 

at Caftle Howard, 334; his marriage and 

children, 459. 
Putnam, Mrs., 6 note. 
Putnam, Augusta, 459. 
Putnam, General, 433. 

Queen Victoria, prefentation to, 309, 
315 ; court ball, 316 ; vifit to Caftle 
Howard, 334. 

Ramirez, J. F., notes on the " Conqueft 
of Mexico," 436, 471. 

Ranke, L., affifts Mr. Prefcott in collect- 
ing materials, 287 ; his Spanifh Empire, 
289 ; Mr. Prefcott prints part of it for 
his private ufe, 290. 

Raphael's cartoons, 44. 

Raumer, F. von, Sixteenth and Seventeenth 
Centuries, 207. 

Readers of Mr. Prefcott. See Secretaries. 

Relazioni Venete, 207, 270, 271, 370 
note. 

Refolutions of Mr. Prefcott as a balls of 
conduct, 17, 18, 143 and note. 

Reviews, why Mr. Prefcott wrote them, 
254; lift of, 255, 256 note; opinions 
on reviewing, 255, 256; fmall value 

of, 375- 

62 



Rheumatifm of Mr. Prefcott, 30, 33, 42, 
50, 125, 390. 

Richards, the Rev. George, lines on Mr. 
Prefcott's death, 476. 

Richmond, portrait of Mr. Prefcott, 316. 

Ripley, George, 381. 

Robertson, William, 83 note; his Charles 
V., 190; his America, 210; his Charles 
V. continued by Mr. Prefcott, 404, 406, 
407, 419. 

Rogers, S., letters from, 180, 210; anec- 
dotes of, 314; vifits to, 319. 

Saint Michael's Island, vifit to, 33-41. 

Sala, Journey due North, 442. 

Salem, life in, during Mr. Prefcott's boy- 
hood, 6. 

Schafer, H., Hiftory of Spain, 171 note. 

Scott, Sir W., power to refift pain, 252 
note ; Review of his Life by Lockhart, 
253 ; love of his novels, 260, 394, 396 
note, 426; Mils Edgeworth on, 271 ; 
his diaries, 314, 319; his laft illnefs, 
427. 

Scott, General Winfield, project for a 
hiftory of his conquest of Mexico, 291, 
292. 

Scottifli popular poetry, Review of, 253. 

Scribe, Sir Robert Peel's miftake about, 
305 note. 

Secretaries to Mr. Prefcott, difficult to 
obtain, 80, 81, 82; lift of, 82 note. 

Shaw, Mrs„ Howland, 298. 

Shaw, William Smith, founder of the 
Bofton Athenaeum, 9. 

Sherwood, Mrs. John, fonnet by, 401 
note. 

Simancas Caftle, documents in, 242 ; diffi- 
culty of accefs to, 285; materials from, 
obtained, 288 ; part found in Paris, 366, 

367. 
Simonds, Henry C, Secretary to Mr. 

Prefcott, 82 note. 

Sismondi, J. C. L., letter from, 177. 

Smith, Alexander, early friend, 300, 342. 

Solis, " Conquifta de Mexico," firft Span- 
ifh book read by Mr. Prefcott, 71, 72. 

Southey, R., on " Ferdinand and Ifa- 
bella," 1 19 and note. 

Sparks, Jared, of the Club, 55 note ; on 



489 



49° 



Index. 



" Ferdinand and Ifabella," 102 ; edition 
of Wafhington's Works, 355. 

Spiritual manifestations, 92 note. 

Sprague, Charles, Ode to Shakespeare re- 
viewed by Mr. Prefcott, 92. 

Stackpole, J. L., 278 and note. 

Stafford Houfe, 309. 

Stanley, Lord, 307. 

Stephens's, J. L., Central America, 211. 

Stirling, William, Memoir of Mr. Pref- 
cott, 304 ; relations with him, 348 ; 
his Cloifter Life, of Charles V., 406. 

Story, Mr. Justice, 6. 

Style of Mr. Prefcott, great pains taken 
with, 2 1 7-2 1 9 ; Ford on it, 2 2 1 ; its free- 
dom, 225 ; confiftent with the author's 
character, 226 ; his individuality in it, 
227 ; influenced by his infirmity of fight, 
228, 229 ; refult, 230. 

Stylufes ufed with the noctograph, to whom 
given, 385. 

Sumner, Charles, illnefs of, 241 ; vifit 
with, to Wafhington, 264 ; Senator, 352, 
355; relations with, 359; on war, 377, 
378; his vifit to England, 423; letters 

t0 > 363* 373> 375> 377> 37^. 
Sutherland, Duchess of, vifit to, 338. 
Swords, The Croffed, 54, 423, 461 -463. 

Taschereau, Jules, 161. 

Taylor, President, 298. 

Ternaux-Compans, 286. 

Thackeray, W. M., 380, 385, 461. 

Thankfgiving in Bedford Street, 391. 

Thayer, N., 265. 

Thierry, P. Augustin, blindnefs, 93, 125 
note; letters from, 178, 273. 

Ticknor, Mrs. Anna, letters to, 259, 318. 

Ticknor, Miss Anna, letters to, 183, 184, 
187. 

Ticknor, George, acquaintance with Mr. 
Prefcott as a boy, 8 ; during an illnefs 
in Bolton, 3 1 ; in Paris, 46 ; in his fam- 
ily* 53 5 readings together, 61 ; relations 
on Englifh ftudies, 61 ; on Spanifh ftud- 
ies, 70; on Italian, 62 - 69, 74 ; letters 
to, 62, 65, 105, 107, 109, 114, 161, 
163, 170 note, 203, 312, 329; letters 
from, 108, 117; Review of, 253, 284; 
remarks on, 472, 473. 



Tocqueville, Alexis de, on review writ- 
ing, 256. 

Tranflations of Mr. Prefcott's works, 469 — 
471. 

Trench, Dean, 473. 

Trentham, vifit to, 338. 

True Grandeur of Nations, by Mr. Sum- 
ner, 377. 

TuckermAn, H., 249 note. 

Tudor, William, 264 note. 

Turnbull, D., 365, 366. 

Twisleton, Edward, 345, 420. 

Tytler, Patrick Frazer, letters from, 1 79, 
191, 215 ; on review writing, 255. 



Unitarianism. 



3I3- 



Vargas y Ponce, manufcripts, 176. 
Vega, Maria Gonzalez de la, 428, 469. 
Veytia, Hiflory, 208. 
Victoria, Queen. See Queen Victoria. 
Voltaire's Charles XII., 186. 

Wagers or bonds to induce work, 144, 145, 

258, 263. 
Wainwright, Bishop, of the Club, 55 

note; vifit to, 201 and note. 
Ware, George F., Secretary, 82 note. 
Ware, Henry, Senior, 14. 
Ware, John, of the Club, 55 note ; on 

Mr. Prefcott's character, 91 note. 
Warren, Henry, of the Club, 55 note. 
Warren, General Joseph, 433, 452. 
Wafhington, vifits at, 264, 298. 
Washington, President, Irving's Life of, 

422 ; edition of his Works by Sparks, 

355. 
Watson, R., the hiftorian, 83 note, 191, 

289. 
Webster, Daniel, on the " Ferdinand and 

Ifabella," 107; Senator at Wafhington, 

298 ; on Mr. Prefcott, Senior, 456. 
Webster, Nathan, 126, 235. 
Wellington, Duke of, 304, 314, 315. 
Wensleydale, Lord. See Parke, Baron. 
Whitebait dinner, 348. 
Whiting, Martin, of the Club, 55 note. 
Wilberforce, Samuel. See Oxford, Bifh- 

op of. 
William of Orange, 323. 



Index. 



49 1 



Williams, E. Dwight, Secretary to Mr. I Withington, G. R. M., Secretary to Mr. 

Prefcott, 82 note. Prefcott, 82 note. 

Windfor Park, 307= Wolf, Ferdinand, affifls Mr. Prefcott, 

Winthrop, Francis William, of the Club, 287. 

r^ note. \ Women in London, none old, 318. 

Winthrop, Robert C, Prefident of the I Wood's Hole, vifit to, 188, 198. 

MafTachufetts Hiftorical Society, 461, 

462. I Yuste, Diaries about Charles V, at, 269. 




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